ROME TOWNSHIP – Firefighters in this eastern Lawrence County township will receive a financial boost thanks to a grant from the federal government.

Wednesday, August 22, 2001

ROME TOWNSHIP – Firefighters in this eastern Lawrence County township will receive a financial boost thanks to a grant from the federal government.

The fire department will receive $29,479 from the Firefighter Investment and Response Enhancement (FIRE) Act. The grants came from a bill sponsored by U.S. Senator Mike DeWine, who authored the legislation last year.

DeWine, who is a member of the Appropriations Committee, secured $100 million for the FIRE Act for this fiscal year. In a press release, DeWine stated, "I am pleased to see that the Rome Volunteer Fire Department will be receiving these funds."

He added, "I worked last year to ensure that this legislation was passed into law and it is my hope that these funds will allow our local fire departments to better meet their needs and continue to protect our communities."

The grants are distributed through a new office with FEMA that will process the grants through the end of September.

More than 19,000 fire departments applied for the $100 million the agency will distribute this year.