WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) outlined a new round of

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grants on Feb. 16 that will help 17 additional fire departments in Mississippi acquire new equipment and vehicles.

The newest FY2009 Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program www.firegrantsupport.com  (AFG) awards, which total more than $1.66 million, will support efforts by local and volunteer fire departments to improve operations, safety and first-responder capabilities.

"The Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program is useful to many rural and volunteer forces that might not otherwise have the resources to obtain the equipment they need to serve the public,” said Cochran, a member of the Senate Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee. “I am pleased that FEMA has accepted grant applications from more fire departments in Mississippi.”

In January, FEMA awarded $1.47 million in AFG grants to 20 local fire departments in Mississippi.  The AFG grant program was funded by Congress in the FY2009 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill.

AFG grants are awarded on a competitive basis by FEMA in cooperation with the U.S. Fire Administration.  Fire departments and emergency medical service organizations that are not affiliated with a hospital may apply for operations and safety or vehicle acquisition funding.

Vehicle acquisition funds may be used to purchase a variety of eligible vehicles, ranging from pumpers to rescue vehicles to fireboats.  Operations and safety grants are used for training and equipment, as well as health and safety modifications to stations and facilities.

The following 17 new FY2009 Assistance for Firefighters Grant Program awards have been approved for Mississippi:

Vehicle Acquisition

*         East Covington Volunteer Fire Department, Collins - $190,475

*         Farmington Volunteer Fire Department, Corinth - $175,750

*         Silver Run Volunteer Fire Department, Perkinston - $110,528

Operations and Safety

*         Blackland Volunteer Fire Department, Booneville - $171,000

*         Benndale Volunteer Fire Department, Lucedale - $121,600

*         Moss Point Fire Department, Moss Point - $107,735

*         Central Volunteer Fire Department, Lucedale - $107,550

*         Ingram Volunteer Fire Department, Baldwyn - $103,266

*         Toomsuba Volunteer Fire Department, Toomsuba - $101,394

*         Oloh Fire Department, Sumrall - $94,802

*         Duck Hill Volunteer Fire Department, Duck Hill - $90,262

*         Oma Volunteer Fire Department, Monticello - $87,734

*         Barton-Marshall Volunteer Fire Department, Olive Branch - $53,200

*         South Madison County Fire Protection District, Canton - $42,172

*         Alphaba-Cockrum-Ingrams Mill Volunteer Fire Department, Hernando - $40,222

*         Pope Volunteer Fire Department, Pope - $36,643

*         Grenada Fire Department, Grenada - $31,963