Southern Tier fire departments receive over $300,000 in federal funding

SOUTHERN TIER, N.Y. (WIVT/WBGH) – Several fire departments across the Southern Tier are receiving federal funding to update their operations.

On Monday, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand announced $1,478,994.39 in federal funding for 16 fire departments across New York State. $310,575 of that funding will go to fire departments in Whitney Point, Binghamton, Cortland, and Elmira.

The funding will be used to provide protective gear, training, and supplies.

The funding was administered through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program (AFG).

“From Watertown to Whitney Point, our brave firefighters are always on the frontlines risking their lives to protect our communities,” said Schumer. “This $1.5 million federal investment means better training, protective gear, and equipment that our firefighters need to keep themselves and New Yorkers safe. I stood with firefighters across Upstate NY to push to reauthorize the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program, which this critical federal funding comes from, and I will always fight to keep New York’s dedicated firefighters prepared to take on any emergency.”

“New York’s firefighters work tirelessly to protect our communities, yet many fire departments across our state are operating with outdated fire trucks and protective gear,” said Gillibrand. “This federal funding will provide them with the new equipment, training, and resources they need to stay safe as they respond to emergency situations. I will continue working to ensure that New York’s fire departments have what they need to defend our communities on the front lines.”

The AFG is administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

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