Press Releases

Washington, D.C. - Today, Congressman Jim McGovern helped announce $520,494 in Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grants to support the reimbursement of personal protective equipment (PPE) at twenty Massachusetts fire departments. 

Assistance to Firefighters Grants Supplemental (AFG-S) funding was established through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The CARES Act distributed monies to federal agencies to disperse as supplemental grants for the purpose of mitigating expenses incurred by the COVID-19 pandemic. These grants reimburse recipient fire departments for the purchase of emergency medical PPE and supplies to disinfect and decontaminate equipment used in first-response. 

“Congress approved these emergency assistance grants in the CARES Act because we want to make sure firefighters have the personal protective equipment and other resources they need to do their job safely during COVID-19,” said Congressman Jim McGovern. “These grants are  going to be a huge help as communities across Massachusetts are coping with the economic impacts of this pandemic. I know the fire departments in the Second District that are receiving these federal funds are going to put them to good use while they continue working around-the-clock to keep us safe.”

McGovern announced the grants while visiting the Millbury Fire Department to celebrate the delivery of a new, federally-funded firetruck that his office helped to secure.

The 7 Fire Departments receiving FEMA grants in the Second District are:

• Greenfield Fire Department - $10,456
  
• Holden  Fire Department - $38,429
  
• Millbury Fire Department - $9,161
  
• Shrewsbury  Fire Department - $46,564
  
• Sunderland Fire Department -  $2,217
• Upton Fire Department - $4,028
• West Boylston Fire Department - $7,483

“Firefighters and Emergency Medical Technicians dedicate their lives to protecting and aiding our communities, and it is essential that we provide our fire departments with the resources they need to protect our first-responders,,” said Senator Elizabeth Warren. “I will continue to fight for the federal resources necessary to combat this pandemic and to keep our communities safe.”  

“Our Massachusetts firefighters are not only essential, they are irreplaceable. Protecting them during this pandemic means they can protect us,” said Senator Ed Markey. “This round of funding will play a key role in ensuring firefighters throughout the Commonwealth have the gear and supplies they need during this public health emergency.”

More information regarding FEMA’s Assistance to Firefighters grant programs can be found here: https://www.fema.gov/welcome-assistance-firefighters-grant-program.