Federal grant enables Joplin Fire Department to hire six firefighters

(From the Joplin Fire Department)

The Joplin Fire Department has won a generous federal grant that will provide funding to hire new firefighters faster than we anticipated.

Following the overwhelming voter approval of Proposition B, the Department planned to add staff to keep up with increasing call volume. This week we received word that the Department has been selected to receive a Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant, awarded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

The $800,000 grant is designed to be combined with a contribution from the City, giving the department an opportunity to hire six new firefighters and to have their salaries covered for the first three years.
SAFER grants were established by the Department of Homeland Security in 2005 to provide funding directly to fire departments and volunteer firefighter organizations to help them increase or maintain the number of trained, "front-line" firefighters available in their communities.

This is the first time the Joplin Fire Department has received this award from FEMA. City Manager Nick Edwards said, “This grant is a huge win for the City of Joplin and the Joplin Fire Department. Our Fire Department will be better staffed, and we will be able to improve our focus on the needs of our citizens in terms of fire prevention and protection. I’m incredibly proud of the Department for finding and earning this opportunity.”