Courtney Announces Federal Funding Award for Sprague’s Baltic Fire Engine Company

WASHINGTON, Sept. 17 -- Rep. Joe Courtney, D-Connecticut, issued the following news release:

Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02) today announced that the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has awarded a federal grant of more than $170,000 to the Town of Sprague, on behalf of the Baltic Fire Engine Company. The new federal funding will support the critical procurement of 24 new firefighter breathing apparatuses for Baltic Fire Engine Company.

"It's welcome news to see more federal resources being directed back home to our region, and even better knowing that these federal dollars will help support some much-needed new equipment for the men and women of Sprague's Baltic Fire Engine Company," said Congressman Courtney. "These funding opportunities have become highly competitive, and it takes hard work and creativity to identify and successfully apply for these grant awards. Congratulations to the Town of Sprague, First Selectman Catherine Osten, and the Baltic Fire Engine Company for putting in the work to earn these federal grant dollars."

"Thank you very much to Congressman Courtney for helping to bring this much needed relief to the Baltic Fire Department," said Sprague First Selectman Catherine Osten. "These federal dollars will help to provide new self-contained breathing apparatuses for our firefighters - a very important piece of equipment that we've made a consistent effort to find funding for. I'm proud of our team for putting together a successful application, and will keep searching for ways to bring home more resources like this."

"With this federal grant, we're going to be replacing self-contained breathing apparatuses that are over twenty years old - it's great news," said Fire Chief Robert Tardif. "The equipment our firefighters are currently using is fatigued, and repairs are costly. For the Town of Sprague, money is right now - this award really comes in at the right time."

The Baltic Fire Engine Company will receive a federal grant award of $171,428.57 though FEMA's Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program. The investment will be used to procure 24 new firefighter breathing apparatuses for Baltic Fire Engine Co., which serves the Town of Sprague and the surrounding areas with fire suppression, rescue, forestry, and emergency services. Click here (http://www.fema.gov/firegrants) to read more.