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Consider Talking to Your Senator for Help with Free Federal Grant Money
A U.S. Senator’s Help
With free federal grant money limited to the amount allocated by the legislative branch of our government, the awards by the AFG program are being fiercely fought for. Federal representatives are starting to get results for their district in support for their respective fire districts.
Fire departments and rescue squads from the state of Wisconsin have made 746 application requests from the AFG program with a total amount requested in funds exceeding $103 million. In July of 2007, Wisconsin Senator Russ Feingold decided to get involved to help steer grants toward his state’s fire departments. A letter was sent to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Office for Domestic Preparedness (ODP). This letter sent by the senator pressed the ODP to strongly consider all of the applications from the state of Wisconsin to be considered for approval for the AFG program.
On February 20, 2008, U.S. Senator Russ Feingold made the public announcement of an award by the AFG. The City of Madison Fire Department was awarded $170,478 from the 2007 Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program.
In Senators Feingold’s address he stated, “this grant program has been an unqualified success in getting much-needed resources directly to the local firefighters. I have been and will continue to be a strong supporter of this program, in no small measure because of the advocacy of Wisconsin firefighters. The members of both volunteer and career fire departments put their lives on the line on a daily basis for others and virtually every meeting I have with Wisconsin firefighters, they tell me about the vital importance of these grants and how these grants allow them to get needed equipment and training they would otherwise be unable to afford.”
If you are thinking about applying or are applying for the free federal grant money from the AFG program, consider enlisting your federal representative’s assistance. It has worked for others; it may help your application win approval.
For help with your AFG grant application click here.
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