Post by SIERRA 14 on Feb 23, 2006 9:02:28 GMT -5
NEWS • NEWS • NEWS • NEWS • NEWS
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA
Governor’s Press Office • Room 308, Main Capitol Building • Harrisburg, PA 17120
www.governor.state.pa.us • 717-783-1116 (Phone) • 717-772-8462 (Fax)
EDWARD G. RENDELL, Governor
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: CONTACT:
Feb. 22, 2006 Kate Philips
717-783-1116
Terry Brady
717-772-9101
GOVERNOR RENDELL ANNOUNCES RECORD FUNDING
FOR STATE’S VOLUNTEER FOREST FIREFIGHTERS
Grants will Help Rural Communities be Prepared, Protected
HARRISBURG – Governor Edward G. Rendell today announced that a record $560,000 is available to help Pennsylvania’s rural communities better guard against the threat of fires in forested, undeveloped and unprotected areas.
“Without properly trained volunteer forest firefighters, thousands of acres of Penn’s Woods and hundreds of homes and cabins could be lost to fires,” Governor Rendell said. “Pennsylvania’s brave men and women who answer the call as volunteers will be better trained and equipped thanks to this record investment in the protection of our open spaces.”
Local firefighting forces in rural areas or communities with populations under 10,000 benefit from the grants. Last year, $508,000 worth of grants helped 140 fire companies across the state.
Grants and other forms of assistance are offered annually through the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, with funding supplied by the USDA Forest Service through the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978 (Volunteer Fire Assistance).
“As the state agency responsible for protecting our state forests from fire, DCNR sees these grants as a boon to helping better organize, train and equip local firefighting forces in rural areas,” Governor Rendell said. “The number of Pennsylvania homes and communities in wooded and wildland areas continues to grow each year.”
Applications must be received by DCNR’s Bureau of Forestry in Harrisburg by 4 p.m. Friday, April 28.
The bureau will place a priority on those applications seeking funds for projects that include the purchase of wildfire suppression equipment and protective clothing. Grants also may be used for mobile or portable radios, installation of dry hydrants, wildfire prevention and mitigation, wildfire fighter training, and the conversion and maintenance of federal access vehicles received from the bureau for fire suppression use.
Awards are granted on a cost-share basis. Grants for any project during a fiscal year cannot exceed 50 percent of the actual expenditures of local, public and private nonprofit organizations in the agreement.
The maximum grant considered from any fire company in 2006 is $7,500. All items approved for purchase under the 2005 fiscal year program must be purchased between Oct. 1, 2005, and Nov. 30, 2006.
Grant applications and information may be obtained from the Bureau of Forestry’s Division of Forest Fire Protection at www.dcnr.state.pa.us/forestry/ffp/index.aspx. Or, call or e-mail Charles C. Choplick, a forest program specialist, at (717) 787-2925, or cchoplick@state.pa.us.
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The Rendell Administration is committed to creating a first-rate public education system, protecting our most vulnerable citizens and continuing economic investment to support our communities and businesses. To find out more about Governor Rendell's initiatives and to sign up for his weekly newsletter, visit his Web site at: www.governor.state.pa.us.
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA
Governor’s Press Office • Room 308, Main Capitol Building • Harrisburg, PA 17120
www.governor.state.pa.us • 717-783-1116 (Phone) • 717-772-8462 (Fax)
EDWARD G. RENDELL, Governor
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: CONTACT:
Feb. 22, 2006 Kate Philips
717-783-1116
Terry Brady
717-772-9101
GOVERNOR RENDELL ANNOUNCES RECORD FUNDING
FOR STATE’S VOLUNTEER FOREST FIREFIGHTERS
Grants will Help Rural Communities be Prepared, Protected
HARRISBURG – Governor Edward G. Rendell today announced that a record $560,000 is available to help Pennsylvania’s rural communities better guard against the threat of fires in forested, undeveloped and unprotected areas.
“Without properly trained volunteer forest firefighters, thousands of acres of Penn’s Woods and hundreds of homes and cabins could be lost to fires,” Governor Rendell said. “Pennsylvania’s brave men and women who answer the call as volunteers will be better trained and equipped thanks to this record investment in the protection of our open spaces.”
Local firefighting forces in rural areas or communities with populations under 10,000 benefit from the grants. Last year, $508,000 worth of grants helped 140 fire companies across the state.
Grants and other forms of assistance are offered annually through the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, with funding supplied by the USDA Forest Service through the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978 (Volunteer Fire Assistance).
“As the state agency responsible for protecting our state forests from fire, DCNR sees these grants as a boon to helping better organize, train and equip local firefighting forces in rural areas,” Governor Rendell said. “The number of Pennsylvania homes and communities in wooded and wildland areas continues to grow each year.”
Applications must be received by DCNR’s Bureau of Forestry in Harrisburg by 4 p.m. Friday, April 28.
The bureau will place a priority on those applications seeking funds for projects that include the purchase of wildfire suppression equipment and protective clothing. Grants also may be used for mobile or portable radios, installation of dry hydrants, wildfire prevention and mitigation, wildfire fighter training, and the conversion and maintenance of federal access vehicles received from the bureau for fire suppression use.
Awards are granted on a cost-share basis. Grants for any project during a fiscal year cannot exceed 50 percent of the actual expenditures of local, public and private nonprofit organizations in the agreement.
The maximum grant considered from any fire company in 2006 is $7,500. All items approved for purchase under the 2005 fiscal year program must be purchased between Oct. 1, 2005, and Nov. 30, 2006.
Grant applications and information may be obtained from the Bureau of Forestry’s Division of Forest Fire Protection at www.dcnr.state.pa.us/forestry/ffp/index.aspx. Or, call or e-mail Charles C. Choplick, a forest program specialist, at (717) 787-2925, or cchoplick@state.pa.us.
###
The Rendell Administration is committed to creating a first-rate public education system, protecting our most vulnerable citizens and continuing economic investment to support our communities and businesses. To find out more about Governor Rendell's initiatives and to sign up for his weekly newsletter, visit his Web site at: www.governor.state.pa.us.