$25 MILLION VOLUNTEER FIRE SERVICES CAPITAL FUND

 **PRESS RELEASE**

Hinchey Announces Launch of $25 Million Volunteer Fire Services Capital Fund

 **PRESS RELEASE**

Volunteer Fire Infrastructure & Response Equipment Grant Program
(V-FIRE) Championed By Hinchey Will Provide Significant Support To
Volunteer Firehouses In NYS

More Information On The V-FIRE Grant Program Can Be Found Here  
The program’s Request for Applications is available here [1].

KINGSTON, NY – Senator Michelle Hinchey today announced that the
application portal is now open for the $25 million Volunteer Fire
Infrastructure & Response Equipment Grant Program (V-FIRE), which she
developed as part of the FY2024 State Budget. Volunteer fire departments
across New York State can now apply for grant funding through the New
York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services (DHSES)
to support equipment and building upgrades. The program’s Request for
Applications is available here [1].

Senator Michelle Hinchey said, “New York’s first-ever Volunteer Fire
Services Capital Fund is finally open — a huge win for our first
responders and local taxpayers that I’m proud to have led the charge
in creating. This new capital fund is not only an investment in the
safety of our communities but also in the first responders who are
always there to answer the call. It’s a privilege to champion support
for New York’s volunteer firehouses, and I encourage all to take
advantage of the funds available.”

“On behalf of our state’s 80,000 volunteer firefighters, I want to
thank Senator Hinchey for her leadership on this important issue and
also thank both houses of the Legislature and the Governor for including
$25 million in funding for this grant program in this year’s
budget,” said Edward Tase, Jr., President of the Firefighters
Association of the State of New York.  “Raising capital funds for
vital long-lasting public safety items like fire apparatus, building
improvements, and new fire stations is especially important to our rural
fire departments.  FASNY encourages all fire departments with a
qualifying need to apply for one of these grants.”

Don Corkery, President of the Association of Fire Districts of the State
of New York, said, “The Association of Fire Districts of the State of
New York would like to recognize Senator Hinchey for her work in
establishing the Volunteer Fire Services Capital Fund and setting aside
$25 million in the state’s 2024 budget for local fire departments to
receive grants to purchase equipment needed by volunteer firefighters to
safely perform their duties. These grants will help local fire
departments and fire districts relieve some of the financial burdens
they face and provide savings to taxpayers.”

The New York State Association of Fire Chiefs said, “The NYS
Association of Fire Chiefs, through its President Scott Ewing, thanks
Senator Michelle Hinchey for her strong support of the Volunteer Fire
Service Capital Fund in this year’s budget. The money will go a long
way in supporting the important work that the volunteer fire service
does in the communities they serve. This is potentially a game changer
for volunteer recruitment and retention efforts!”

THE VOLUNTEER FIRE INFRASTRUCTURE & RESPONSE EQUIPMENT GRANT PROGRAM
Administered by the State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency
Services, the grant program supports volunteer fire departments by
upgrading and improving facilities and response capabilities. Two
funding options are available through the grant program:

     * $20 million is available for construction, renovation, and/or
facility purchase projects, including fire stations, substations,
joint/shared stations, fire training towers, instructional classrooms
and meeting spaces, exhaust systems, and shower facilities for
decontamination. Eligible applicants can apply for up to $1,000,000.
    * $5 million is available for fire service equipment projects,
including personal protective equipment (PPE), PPE washer/extractor, PPE
dryers, radios/communications equipment, rehab equipment, and mask
service unit/air compressors. Eligible applicants can apply for up to
$500,000.

The program’s Request for Applications is available here [1]. The
application deadline is April 30, 2024, by 5:00 pm.

In addition to handling traditional fire services, volunteer departments
throughout New York State are taking on a growing range of
responsibilities, such as mutual aid calls, EMS, vehicle accidents, and
weather-related rescues. By boosting capital funding for volunteer fire
services, New York can not only address the increasing demands on these
departments but also contribute to a system that delivers substantial
cost savings to taxpayers.

During the FY2024 State Budget process, Hinchey garnered broad support
for the Volunteer Fire Infrastructure & Response Equipment Program,
building a coalition that included the Fire Association of the State of
New York (FASNY), the Association of Fire Districts of the State of New
York, the NYS Association of Fire Chiefs, the NYS Conference of Mayors,
the New York Association of Towns, the NYS Association of Counties, and
a bipartisan group over 40 state lawmakers.

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Links:
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[1] https://www.dhses.ny.gov/state-funded-programs