Wes Hickman (202-224-5972) or Kevin Bishop (864-250-1417)

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Jim DeMint and Lindsey Graham announced $1,079,479 in grants for South Carolina Fire Departments. The Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program (AFGP) awards one-year grants directly to fire departments to support the nation's firefighters and the services they deliver. For the FY 2005 program, Congress appropriated, and President Bush signed into law, $650 million in direct assistance to firefighters to improve the effectiveness of firefighting operations, firefighter health and safety programs, and to establish or expand fire prevention programs throughout the United States. The Department of Homeland Security’s Office for Domestic Preparedness (ODP) administers the program, in cooperation with the U.S. Fire Administration. The grants were awarded in one of two program areas:

• Operations and Firefighter Safety Program: The funds may be used for training, wellness, and fitness programs; the purchase of firefighting equipment and personal protective equipment; and modifications to fire stations and facilities.
• Firefighting Vehicle Acquisition Program: The funds may be used for the purchase of firefighting vehicles including pumpers, brush trucks, tankers, rescue vehicles, ambulances, quints, aerials, foam units, and fireboats. The following South Carolina cities were awarded grants: Anderson Center Rock Fire Department will receive a $116,824 Operations and Firefighter Safety Grant. Elloree Elloree Fire Department will receive a $185,250 Firefighting Vehicle Acquisition Grant. Midway Volunteer Fire Department will receive a $235,600 Firefighting Vehicle Acquisition Grant. Eutawville Eutawville Fire Department will receive a $93,110 Operations and Firefighter Safety Grant. Moncks Corner Moncks Corner Rural Fire Department will receive a $61,299 Operations and Firefighter Safety Grant. Seneca Friendship Volunteer Fire Department will receive an $86,292 Operations and Firefighter Safety Grant. Sharon Crossroads Volunteer Fire Department will receive a $118,750 Firefighting Vehicle Acquisition Grant. Simpsonville Simpsonville Fire Department will receive a $46,800 Operations and Firefighter Safety Grant. St. Matthews Fort Motte Volunteer Fire Department will receive a $97,090 Operations and Firefighter Safety Grant. Whitmire Whitmire Fire Department will receive a $38,464 Operations and Firefighter Safety Grant. ####

Wes Hickman (202-224-5972) or Kevin Bishop (864-250-1417)

WASHINGTON- U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today announced the Lancaster County School District will receive an $894,523 Safe Schools/Healthy Students grant. The Safe Schools/Healthy Students Initiative is a national grant program that provides federal funds to create safe and drug-free schools, develop social skills, and promote healthy childhood development. Graham recently visited Lancaster and met with local officials to discuss education, social security, and other issues of local concern. The grant was awarded by the U.S. Department of Education. ####

Wes Hickman (202-224-5972) or Kevin Bishop (864-250-1417)

WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today announced North Charleston will receive a $225,000 grant to support the Weed and Seed program. Weed and Seed aims to prevent, control, and reduce violent crime, drug abuse, and gang activity in targeted high-crime neighborhoods. The strategy involves a two-pronged approach: law enforcement agencies and prosecutors cooperate in ‘weeding out’ criminals who participate in violent crime and drug abuse, attempting to prevent their return to the targeted area; and ‘seeding’ brings human services to the area, encompassing prevention, intervention, treatment, and neighborhood revitalization. This is the fifth award for the North Charleston program which serves four neighborhoods in the community. During this project period, program goals include reducing gun violence, improving quality of life in the neighborhoods, providing human resource programs to address the needs of residents, and improving the physical condition of the neighborhoods. The grant was awarded by the U.S. Department of Justice. ####

Wes Hickman (202-224-5972) or Kevin Bishop (864-250-1417)

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Jim DeMint and Lindsey Graham announced $3,999,743 in grants for South Carolina Fire Departments. The Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program (AFGP) awards one-year grants directly to fire departments to support the nation's firefighters and the services they deliver. For the FY 2005 program, Congress appropriated, and President Bush signed into law, $650 million in direct assistance to firefighters to improve the effectiveness of firefighting operations, firefighter health and safety programs, and to establish or expand fire prevention programs throughout the United States. The Department of Homeland Security’s Office for Domestic Preparedness (ODP) administers the program, in cooperation with the U.S. Fire Administration. The grants were awarded in one of two program areas:

• Operations and Firefighter Safety Program: The funds may be used for training, wellness, and fitness programs; the purchase of firefighting equipment and personal protective equipment; and modifications to fire stations and facilities.
• Firefighting Vehicle Acquisition Program: The funds may be used for the purchase of firefighting vehicles including pumpers, brush trucks, tankers, rescue vehicles, ambulances, quints, aerials, foam units, and fireboats.

The following South Carolina cities were awarded grants: Abbeville Cold Springs Volunteer Fire Department will receive a $188,100 Firefighting Vehicle Acquisition Grant. Edgewood Fire Department will receive a $41,514 Operations and Firefighter Safety Grant. Sharon Volunteer Fire Department will receive a $34,696 Operations and Firefighter Safety Grant. Aiken Silver Bluff Fire Department will receive a $47,731 Operations and Firefighter Safety Grant. Anderson Broadway Fire Department will receive a $65,709 Operations and Firefighter Safety Grant. Batesburg Sandy Ridge Volunteer Fire Department will receive a $37,339 Operations and Firefighter Safety Grant. Beaufort Beaufort Fire Department will receive a $173,271 Operations and Firefighter Safety Grant. Beech Island Clearwater Volunteer Fire Department will receive a $62,168 Operations and Firefighter Safety Grant. Boiling Springs Boiling Springs Fire Department will receive a $70,300 Operations and Firefighter Safety Grant. Boiling Springs Fire District will receive a $97,452 Operations and Firefighter Safety Grant. Conway Conway Fire Department will receive a $50,054 Operations and Firefighter Safety Grant. Cross Anchor Cross Anchor Fire Department will receive a $62,685 Operations and Firefighter Safety Grant. Donalds Broadmouth-Turkey Creek Volunteer Fire Department will receive a $40,290 Operations and Firefighter Safety Grant. Easley Easley Fire Department will receive a $170,971 Operations and Firefighter Safety Grant. Fountain Inn Fountain Inn Fire & Rescue will receive a $66,806 Operations and Firefighter Safety Grant. Gaffney Draytonville-Mckown-Mountain-Wilkinsville Volunteer Fire Department will receive a $200,450 Operations and Firefighter Safety Grant. Honea Path Keowee Volunteer Fire Department will receive a $63,456 Operations and Firefighter Safety Grant. Iva Grove Fire Department will receive a $213,750 Firefighting Vehicle Acquisition Grant. Lancaster Elgin Volunteer Fire Department will receive a $143,450 Firefighting Vehicle Acquisition Grant. Lyman Holly Springs Volunteer Fire District will receive a $164,825 Firefighting Vehicle Acquisition Grant. Marietta Slater-Marietta will receive a $54,535 Operations and Firefighter Safety Grant. Murrells Inlet – Garden City Murrells Inlet-Garden City Fire District will receive a $231,691 Operations and Firefighter Safety Grant. Moncks Corner Moncks Corner Fire Department will receive a $97,052 Operations and Firefighter Safety Grant. Mt. Carmel Willington-Mt. Carmel Volunteer Fire Dept. will receive a $213,750 Firefighting Vehicle Acquisition Grant. Olar Olar Fire Department will receive a $15,234 Operations and Firefighter Safety Grant. Orangeburg Jamison Fire Department will receive a $185,250 Firefighting Vehicle Acquisition Grant. Orangeburg Department of Public Safety will receive a $157,500 Operations and Firefighter Safety Grant. Pickens Pumpkintown Area Fire Protection District will receive a $14,702 Operations and Firefighter Safety Grant. Pomaria Pomaria Rescue Squad will receive a $73,625 Operations and Firefighter Safety Grant. Salley Hollow Creek Fire Department will receive a $195,225 Firefighting Vehicle Acquisition Grant. Taylors Taylors Fire Dept will receive a $47,250 Operations and Firefighter Safety Grant. Townville Double Springs Fire Department will receive a $55,556 Operations and Firefighter Safety Grant. Wagener Wagener Fire Department will receive a $57,000 Firefighting Vehicle Acquisition Grant. Walhalla Pickett Post - Camp Oak Fire Department will receive a $140,710 Operations and Firefighter Safety Grant. Westminster Oakway Rescue Squad, Inc. will receive a $48,980 Operations and Firefighter Safety Grant. Williamston Piercetown Fire Department will receive a $90,250 Firefighting Vehicle Acquisition Grant. Windsor Windsor Fire Department will receive a $171,416 Firefighting Vehicle Acquisition Grant. Winnsboro Greenbrier- Bethel Volunteer Fire Department will receive a $152,000 Firefighting Vehicle Acquisition Grant. ###