Kendall County Times

WASHINGTON, D.C. — On August 11, Representative Lauren Underwood (IL-14) announced that the Ottawa Fire Department will receive $713,849 through the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Program. These funds help fire departments hire additional firefighters, rehire or retain firefighters facing budget-related layoffs, and recruit and retain volunteer firefighters.  

“As a member of the Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, bringing home federal resources to keep our community safe and healthy is a top priority,” said Underwood. “In the wake of the closures of St. Margaret’s hospitals in Peru and Spring Valley, this grant will help relieve the strain on local emergency services and first responders. I am proud to have supported the Fire Department’s application and am delighted to see this funding benefit Ottawa and the surrounding areas.” 

In addition to Underwood’s support for the Fire Department’s SAFER application, she is working to secure $1 million in Community Project Funding to build a brand-new ambulance and fire station in Ottawa. This will help improve emergency response times.  

The FY 2022 SAFER Program, administered by the Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency in cooperation with the U.S. Fire Administration, awards grants to eligible fire departments and volunteer firefighter organizations. Grants help local fire departments with staffing and deployment so that they can effectively and safely respond to emergencies. More information can be found here.  

Original source can be found here.