« Health Hazards of Diesel Exhaust The Montana Report | Home | Diesel Exhaust Affects Humans – A California Report – Part II »
Successful Grants are Awarded On their Own Merit
The AFG Program awards federal grant money to fire departments though out this country. Maryland has been the recipient of the largest single award amount this year since the start of the program. Washington County in Maryland received $400,000 from the 2007 AFG program.
The two senators from Maryland were on hand at the award ceremony. Senator Mikulski was quoted saying, “Washington County is breaking all records for the awards they are winning. They apply for grants, Senator Cardin and I support them, they are peer-reviewed, and they win on merit, no pork barrel.”
Senator Cardin added,” In rural areas it’s important to have the network of fire protection, but it’s costly. You need equipment here that you don’t necessarily need in an urban city, to get water to the fire, for example.”
This was a nice gesture from these two senators to watch the $2,000,000 award go to their state without taking any credit. Since the AFG program was instituted and awards being handed out, the State of Maryland has been the recipient of $63,000,000.
The situation of local fire departments in some rural towns is not as promising as in most urban counter parts. A volunteer firefighter from Funkstown Fire Department, Glenn Fuscick summed up the situation appropriately. He said,” Without these federal grants, a few companies will be close to having shut their doors. The money isn’t just there anymore. People aren’t contributing to the fund drives.”
With the cost of a new firefighting vehicle reaching $500,000 or more and fire fighting protective clothing costing about $1000, it is no wonder that the need for federal grant money is in high demand.
Leave a Comment
You must be logged in to post a comment.