Grant to help save firefighter jobs
The Orlando City Council received an $8.4 million federal grant that will allow it to retain 46 firefighter positions that would have been eliminated as part of budget cuts due to the recession.
The funding is part of the federal government’s Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response program. The grant will cover the firefighters’ salaries and benefits for a two-year period with no matching funds required.
“Securing this grant took a collaborative, bipartisan effort from Central Florida’s elected leaders,” said Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer Faxless payday loans. “I want to specifically thank U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, U.S. Sen. George S. LeMieux, U.S Rep. Corrine Brown, U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson and U.S. Rep. Suzanne M. Kosmas for their willingness to partner with us to obtain this critical funding.”
The SAFER grant is expected to be distributed to the city of Orlando later this year.