LaHood to meet with Armington firefighters on Monday to celebrate awarding of federal grants

[SEPT. 3, 2005]  PEORIA -- U.S. Ray LaHood, R-Peoria, will join firefighters with the Armington Fire Protection District on Monday to celebrate the two Firefighter Assistance Grants that have been awarded to the district in the past few years. In 2002 the district received a federal grant of $79,938 for operations and safety programs. This year a grant of $84,000 was awarded for a new vehicle.

What: LaHood, firefighters celebrate awarding of grants to Armington Fire Protection District

When: Monday, Sept. 5, 9 a.m.

Where: Armington Fire Station, 105 W. Third St., Armington

Over $4 million has been awarded to communities and fire protection units throughout the 18th Congressional District since the inception of the program in 2001.

LaHood has also been instrumental in obtaining $1 million in recent years for upgrades to the infrastructure of the village of Armington. He secured $500,000 in 2004 for a sanitary sewer system and $500,000 in 2005 for road improvements in the Tazewell County community.

LaHood has been a strong proponent of the Firefighters Assistance Grants and believes they have done much to assist rural communities in addressing the emergency response needs of their citizens.

"Rural and small communities just do not have the same resources as larger communities when it comes to emergency services, so the importance of these Firefighter Assistance Grants cannot be overstated," LaHood said. "Many of the grants we have helped secure over the past few years, including the grants for Armington, have allowed fire departments and districts secure equipment, vehicles or training services which they simply would not be able to afford. From terrorist attacks to natural disasters, the significance of our emergency responders has really come into the public's eye over the past few years. These folks are on the front line for us every day, and we need to make sure they have the resources and equipment to get the job done."

[News release from Rep. Ray LaHood,
18th Congressional District]