Senator Helming Announces $500,000 in State Grants for Local Volunteer Fire Departments

Senator Pamela A. Helming (R,C,I-Canandaigua) today announced that she secured $500,000 through this year’s New York State budget in grants for local volunteer fire departments in communities throughout the 54^th District. These grants will go toward helping departments purchase such lifesaving equipment as Jaws of Life, automated external defibrillators, turnout gear for firefighters, and many other important tools that firefighters use to protect our communities.

“We can never thank volunteer firefighters enough for what they do – leaving their jobs and families to respond to our emergencies at all hours of the day and night, risking their lives to run into and around burning structures to save us and our homes – all without getting paid to do it. I hope that these grants show these brave men and women how much we appreciate them and their work,” Senator Helming said.

Senator Helming fought for and achieved the funding for these grants during the negotiations for this year’s state budget as part of her effort to bring state funding back to our communities in the Finger Lakes region. All of the more than 70 volunteer fire departments in the 54^th District received an award. The New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services will manage the grants.

“In past years, not all of our volunteer fire departments received these grants because there just wasn’t enough funding to go around. This year, I wanted to make sure each of the departments had an opportunity to share in this important funding. Municipal budgets that support these volunteer fire departments are already tight. It is my hope that by securing this funding for our local volunteer fire departments, the local governments will feel some relief and savings that will be passed on to property owners,” Senator Helming said.

Senator Helming represents the 54^th Senate District, which consists of Seneca and Wayne Counties, parts of Cayuga and Ontario Counties, and the towns of Lansing and Webster. For more information, please visit Senator Helming’s website, or follow @SenatorHelming on Facebook or Twitter.

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