WZB-25 reported today that 61 Trenton firefighters facing pending lay-offs will be funded through a federal grant obtained with the assistance of Congressman Chris Smith.

    Smith, a long-time member of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus, worked closely with Fire Chief John Gribbin, as well as Trenton Mayor Tony Mack, to help Trenton secure the funding, $13,685,436 through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER). It is administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in cooperation with the U.S. Fire Administration. Smith received word of the funding this morning.

    Click here to watch local TV station WZBN-25 report on the grant.

    Although official notice is expected next week, multiple federal sources have informed Smith the funds have been included in an upcoming round of grants. After meeting with Special Operations Chief Gribbin and other city firefighters in September 2010, Smith sent a letter to FEMA arguing the city’s case, focusing on the budgetary crisis the Garden State’s capital is facing and public safety. In December, Smith helped obtain a waiver for the City after it inadvertently became ineligible for the grant when it postponed planned layoffs until after the New Year. Working with Assistant Administrator of FEMA Elizabeth Harmon and FEMA staff, Smith explained to a concerned Harmon that the loss of an expected 61 firefighters would be detrimental to fire service in the densely populated, historic city.

    SAFER grants provide assistance to fire departments to increase the number of frontline firefighters. The goal is for fire departments to increase their staffing and deployment capabilities and help provide communities with adequate protection from fire and fire-related hazards. The SAFER program supports several critical activities, such as the rehiring of laid off firefighters, the retention of firefighters facing layoffs, the hiring of new firefighters, and recruitment and retention of volunteer firefighters.  Grants are used to pay the salaries and benefits of firefighters hired with grant funds over the two-year award performance period.