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News from the Keweenaw Peninsula Posted February 23, 2002 Press release © 2002 U.S. Rep. Bart Stupak, D-Menominee

Stupak: FEMA grants can aid Northern Michigan fire departments

WASHINGTON -- A federal program that brought more than $210,000 in grants to northern Michigan fire departments in 2001 is being offered again in 2002, along with workshops on how to apply for the grants, according to Rep. Bart Stupak, D-Menominee.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will offer the grants through its Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program. Workshops on the program are being set up by FEMA, the U.S. Fire Administration and local and state fire organizations at the following sites in or near the 1st Congressional District:

• Wednesday, Feb. 27, 7 p.m. - 9 p.m. EST, MacMullen Conference Center, N. Higgins Lake Drive, Higgins Lake, Mich. (One representative per department. RSVP to Chief Ed Holtcamp at 989-275-8548.)
   
• Thursday, Feb. 28, 7 p.m. - 9 p.m. EST, Norris Center, Lake Superior State University, Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. (RSVP to Chief Ken Eagle at 906-632-2226)
   
• Friday, March 1, 7 p.m. - 9 p.m. EST, Covington Multi-Purpose Building, Covington, Mich. No RSVP required.

"The FEMA program is available to all local municipal fire departments," Stupak said. "Funding will be available for six categories: Fire operations and firefighter safety, fire prevention, emergency medical services and firefighting vehicles."

The application period will run from March 1 through April 1, and applications will be reviewed in April and May. Grant awards begin in May and continue until all funds are awarded.

Applications can be obtained by calling FEMA's grant office toll free at 866-274-0960, or by sending an e-mail to usfagrants@fema.gov 

Additional information on the program is available on the World Wide Web at the FEMA Web site.

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