A federal grant will help the Cranberry Township Volunteer Fire Company keep the community a little safer.
The organization was awarded a Federal Emergency Management Agency Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grant. The grant was created to provide funding to help firefighting organizations increase or maintain the number of trained, front-line firefighters available in their communities. It also aids in helping organizations meet industry standards and work toward 24-hour staffing, which has proven to significantly improve response times and ensures an adequate crew is available for that response.
The $836,046 award can be used from June 7, 2023 to June 6, 2027. The organization can be reimbursed for qualifying expenditures during that period.
The qualifying categories include personal protective equipment (PPE), tuition and training assistance, stipend staffing, and marketing.
“This grant will allow us to provide additional incentives that are crucial in attracting and maintaining new talent,” said Scott Garing, Fire and Emergency Services Chief.
Garing noted the organization has applied for the SAFER grant several times over the last three years – an effort that coincides with an ongoing focus on improving recruitment and retention.
“Through the hard work of our team, our organization has grown tremendously over the last few years as we’ve become more stable and able to respond quickly when called upon,” he said. “This award provides significant proof that we are moving in the right direction.”