WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Dave Joyce (OH-14) reminds officials across Ohio’s 14th Congressional District of the opportunity to apply for funding through the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) Program. The application period will remain open until March 13, 2020 at 5:00 p.m. EST. Dave has been a longtime champion of the AFG Program, having personally advocated on behalf of the program to leadership at FEMA and having previously voted to increase the program’s funding.

“Our fire departments and emergency responders are the first line of defense in our communities when disaster strikes,” said Dave. “But when I talk with firefighters across Northeast Ohio, I often hear about the funding and personnel challenges their departments face. This grant program helps ensure that our firefighters and emergency responders are protected and properly equipped while on the job. I’m proud to support the AFG Program and strongly encourage fire departments across OH-14 to apply for the funding available through it to help their staff do their jobs as safely as possible.”

Last year, three fire departments in Ohio’s 14th Congressional District received over $263,202 through the AFG Program. The primary goal of the AFG Program is to meet the firefighting and emergency response needs of fire departments and non-affiliated emergency medical service organizations. Since 2001, the AFG Program has helped firefighters and other first responders to obtain critically needed equipment, protective gear, emergency vehicles, training, and other resources necessary to protect the public and emergency personnel from fire and related hazards.

For more information on the AFG Program, please visit https://www.fema.gov/welcome-assistance-firefighters-grant-program. Applicants can also receive assistance by contacting the Assistance to Firefighters Grants Help Desk at 1-866-274-0960 from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM Monday through Friday. Additionally, interested organizations may contact Dave’s Mentor office at (440) 352-3939 as Congressional offices are able to provide letters of support for federal grant applications.

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