LANGHORNE, PA – Today, August 19, 2022, Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01) announced the Perseverance Volunteer Fire Company No. 1 of Souderton has received a FY 2021 Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to enhance their response capabilities and to more effectively protect the health and safety of the public and emergency response personnel from fire and other related hazards.

Perseverance Volunteer Fire Company No. 1 received a total of $212,471.42 to be used towards Operation and Safety through the AFG Program. The purpose of the AFG Program is to award grants directly to fire departments, nonaffiliated emergency medical services (EMS) organizations, and State Fire Training Academies to enhance their ability to protect the health and safety of the public, as well as that of first-responder personnel. Using a competitive process that is informed by fire service subject matter experts, grants are awarded to eligible applicants whose applications best address the priorities of the AFG Program. Since fiscal year FY 2001, the AFG Program has awarded approximately $7.7 billion in grants to provide critically needed resources. The total amount appropriated for the FY 2021 AFG Program initiative is $460 million.

“As our nation beings to rebuild from the impacts of the pandemic, we must continue to aid the many sectors of our community that have been negatively impacted. Even before the pandemic, our volunteer fire departments faced both funding and staffing shortages only to have the pandemic exacerbate the existing issues,” said Fitzpatrick. “This grant will go a long way in assisting the Perseverance Volunteer Fire Company No. 1 and will go a long way in aiding the residents of Souderton, who rely on their first responders to keep them safe.”

Currently, FEMA is on round 2 of the competitive FY 2021 AFG announcements and will continue to announce AFG grants on a weekly basis. This program is administered by the Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency in cooperation with the U.S. Fire Administration.

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