Mich. FD secures $708K SAFER grant to add 3 firefighters

By Kayla Tucker
mlive.com

MUSKEGON, Mich. — The Muskegon Fire Department has received a federal grant to hire three new firefighters.

The department was awarded a grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) through the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Program, according to a press release.

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The $708,463.02 grant will support the hiring of three additional firefighters for the next three years.

The funding will cover two-thirds of salaries and benefits for three years.

When the grant funding ends, “the city is committed to continuing the employment of these three firefighters to ensure long-term public safety,” the press release stated.

“This grant is a tremendous benefit to our department and our community,” said Tim Kozal, director of public safety in Muskegon. “By adding three new firefighters to our team, we will improve response times, increase firefighter safety, and continue delivering the high level of service our residents expect and deserve.”
The SAFER Program was established to help fire departments increase the number of trained, frontline firefighters in their communities, ensuring they can meet industry standards and respond effectively to emergencies.