Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Over $351K In Federal Funding For Four Fire Departments In Central New York, The Finger Lakes Region, And The Southern Tier

Washington, DC – U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $375,618.65 in federal funding for four fire departments in Cayuga, Ontario, Steuben, and Tompkins Counties. Specifically, the City of Auburn Fire Department will receive $24,418.18, the Village of Shortsville Fire Department will receive $44,285.71, the City of Hornell Fire Department will receive $137,184.76, and the City of Ithaca Fire Department will receive $169,730. The funding was allocated through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program (AFG).

“It is essential that we provide our firefighters with the equipment they need to stay safe on the job,” said Senator Schumer. “Our first responders across Upstate New York are our local heroes and our first line of defense for safety and security – it is critical that we do all we can to ensure that they are well equipped and prepared to take on any emergency.”

“Our first responders defend and protect their communities, and we need to do everything we can to ensure that they can stay safe and be prepared to respond to emergencies,” said Senator Gillibrand. “I am excited to announce this funding for fire departments in Auburn, the Village of Shortsville, Hornell, and Ithaca, which will provide critical support to our firefighters as they work to keep our communities safe. I will always fight in the Senate for the resources that our local fire departments need.”

“We are ecstatic about this, the equipment we have on our current units are outdated. Our main goal is to put the community first, so we started to worry on how we would fully service the region with outdated equipment. This equipment is much needed for us to perform our daily duties and serve the Southern Tier,” said Frank Brzozowski, Fire Chief for the City of Hornell.

A breakdown and description of the federal grant awards for Central New York, the Finger Lakes Region, and the Southern Tier may be found below.

The Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program is administered by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency in cooperation with the Department’s United States Fire Administration. The grants are awarded on a competitive basis to the applicants that most closely address the program’s priorities and demonstrate financial need. The funding will be used to support the operations and safety of fire departments, which could include providing professional training, purchasing wellness programs equipment and personal protective equipment, and upgrading facilities and supplies. More information on the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program can be found here.