The grants are worth close to $600,000 and have been approved to help prepare and equip firefighters in Laurel Mississippi. The money comes from the Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) and will go to the Mississippi State Fire Academy, Jackson ($391,305), Greenville Fire Department ($149,846), Glen Volunteer Fire Department ($37,330), and Beaver Lake Fire Protection District in Purvis ($20,378).
Additional funding was added to the City of Laurel for $247,805 and the Southhaven Fire Department received a separate $64,637 from the grant.
“These grants are intended to enhance the readiness and capabilities of our local fire departments. I hope these federal funds will help improve public safety,” Sen. Thad Cochran said.
The AFG operations and safety grants are intended to be used for professional training, protective equipment, facility modifications, and supplies that support firefighting.
The grant is administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) along with the U.S. Fire Administration and are awarded on a competitive process overseen by fire service experts.
