Agawam Fire Department receives CSTF grant

July 26, 2021 | Lauren LeBel
llebel@thereminder.com

AGAWAM – The Baker-Polito Administration recently announced nearly $350,000 in local Public Safety Grants. Agawam was one the 40 cities and towns selected across Massachusetts.

The Agawam Fire Department will be receiving $5,995 for inflatable water rescue craft.

According to a press release from mass.gov, this grant will fund equipment, technology, training, and planning for first responders. “The awards were financed by the Commonwealth Security Trust Fund (CSTF) grant program and disbursed by the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security’s Office of Grants and Research (OGR).”

Gov. Charlie Baker expressed his administration's honor in supporting first responders with these new grants.

Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito agreed, claiming that the CSTF will help cities and towns train and be well prepared for any type of threat that may be presented to them at a scene.

The press release read, “Under Chapter 10, Section 67, of the Massachusetts General Laws, the CSTF grants are funded by revenue received from the sale of “United We Stand” license plates and interest earnings. The recipients and award amounts are determined by a Board of Trustees drawn from state government, law enforcement, the fire service, and relatives of Massachusetts victims of the September 11, 2001 attacks.”

This year’s awards range from $1,320 to $20,000. The grant will allow for the purchasing of lifesaving equipment including water rescue craft (which Agawam received), and firefighting foam; communications devices, i.e., laptops, radios, etc.; along with protective turnout gear.

Kevin Stanton, executive director of OGR said, “The highly competitive CSTF grant program is just one of the resources we offer to help train and equip the state’s first responders.” He continued, “The OGR team is committed to helping Massachusetts cities and towns protect and serve their residents and communities.”

In addition to the CSTF funds augmenting local police and fire departments through emergency response capabilities, the grant also covers the conservation and maintenance for the Massachusetts Law Enforcement Memorial and Massachusetts Fallen Firefighters Maintenance Memorial –  honoring first responders who lost their lives in the line of duty. 

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