Fire chief: SAFER and FEMA grants unlikely this year; council discusses training‑center funding options

Fire Chief Keith Ray told council on Oct. 6 that the city did not receive funding from the SAFER or FEMA grant programs this year and that all funds had been expended in the grant rounds, making awards unlikely unless an allocation is declined by another applicant. He said the department has applied multiple years and that funding pools were reduced this cycle.

Why it matters: SAFER and FEMA grants can pay for staffing and equipment; not receiving awards means the department must rely on local funding or other grants. Council members also discussed a possible federal funding source of approximately $4.5 million that could support a new training center and the prospect of a scaled‑down building if federal funds do not materialize.

Key points: Ray said the city had expended funds on prior grants and that the department’s applications had been competitive but were not funded this year. The mayor and council discussed coordinating with the city’s grant and engineering efforts and said a smaller or scaled version of a proposed training facility could proceed if federal funds do not arrive. Council members discussed cost‑reduction measures and further review with the fire chief and engineering consultants.

Next steps: Council said it will continue discussions with engineers and seek to align local resources with potential federal funding; no formal appropriation or vote on a training‑center contract took place at the Oct. 6 meeting.