CONGRESSMAN BISHOP ANNOUNCES $105,942 IN FEDERAL FUNDS TO HELP EQUIP MONTEZUMA FIRE DEPARTMENT

August 2, 2023
Press Release

MONTEZUMA, Ga. – Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr., (GA-02) a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee, announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has awarded an Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) of $105,942 to the city of Montezuma, Georgia.

“The first responders of the city of Montezuma serve their community with pride and bravery. I am proud that my work in Congress supports these volunteers who risk their lives to protect us, our homes, and our businesses,” said Congressman Bishop. “I will continue working hard to find common ground with my colleagues and fund programs like the Assistance to Firefighters Grants, which are essential for our nation’s rural and underserved communities so that they can keep their communities safe without unbearable strain on their budgets.”

“This grant will be a huge step into Montezuma Fire and Emergency Services, advancing the safety of our firefighters—in that all the surrounding departments are using 4500 psi packs and all of ours are 2216 with the cylinders going out of date in February 2024. We run a lot of aid calls and with this grant, familiarity of the same packs and compliant packs will bring a huge safety factor with it,” said Montezuma Fire Department Chief Roy Yoder.

In Fiscal Year 2022, FEMA awarded $324 million in Assistance to Firefighter Grants to first responders across the country. These grants are awarded to fire departments, emergency medical services organizations, State Fire Training Academies (SFTA), and other non-federal first responder organizations. These grants help enhance training programs, obtain equipment and personal protective equipment (PPE), and make modifications to facilities.

Since January 2023, Congressman Bishop secured the following funding for Southwest Georgia’s first responders:

  • $64,762 in AFG to Schley County Fire and Emergency Medical Services

  • $161,167 to Miller and Baker counties to replace obsolete 911 equipment

  • $3,941,986 to Mitchell County and surrounding counties to purchase interoperable P25 radio system equipment, which allows fire, police, and EMS to communicate within and across counties during natural disasters

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