BY JEFF CHUDZINSKINorth Country This Week

LOUISVILLE -- Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand have secured $161,904.76 for the Louisville Volunteer Fire Department as part of the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program (AFG).

According to a press release from Schumer's office, the funds are part of $2,476,058.74 secured by the senators for fire departments across upstate New York.

“Every day, brave firefighters risk their lives on the frontlines to protect communities across Upstate NY, from Latham to Lockport,” said Senator Schumer.

“This nearly $2.5 million federal investment means better training, protective gear, and equipment that our firefighters need to keep themselves and New Yorkers safe. I stood with firefighters across Upstate New York to push for the reauthorization of the Assistance to Firefighters Grant program and I’m grateful that, as a result, the AFG Program is continuing to deliver results.”

The funding will be used to purchase protective gear for fire departments, as well as for training costs, as well as supplies for emergency personnel.

In total, 34 fire departments will receive funding as part of the grant program.

“New York firefighters work tirelessly to protect our communities,” said Senator Gillibrand.

“This federal funding will provide them with the necessary equipment, training, and resources to keep them safe as they respond to emergency situations. I will continue fighting for New York fire departments and working to ensure they are well-equipped for both their safety and that of our communities.”

The funding comes from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)'s Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program.

The funds come after the senators announced the first three rounds of 2024 AFG funding earlier this year, bringing millions of dollars to the region to support first responders, the senators said.

Schumer played a key role in creating the AFG, as well as the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) program. Since their inceptions, Schumer said the programs have delivered over $700 million to New York State's first responders.

Congress also approved the bipartisan Fire Grants and Safety Act earlier this year, which extended the AFG and SAFER programs, both of which Schumer described as "a lifeline for fire departments across the state" that has become essential to continued operations.