SOUTHFIELD, Mich. – The Southfield City Council accepted a $2 million federal grant to help enhance the existing fire department last Monday.
The grant will cover the cost of four new firefighters including salaries, benefits, equipment and continued training for two years with no cost to the city.
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The Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant from FEMA will be given to the city over a two-year period.
"This agreement represents an excellent example of intergovernmental cooperation," said Southfield City Council President Joan Seymour. "This grant will not only allow us to hire four highly trained and qualified reservists, but also to maintain all of the City's existing firefighters."
The grant was created to provide funding directly to fire departments in order to help them increase the number of trained, "frontline" firefighters available in their communities.
"This is a mutually beneficial agreement that will increase fire department staff and strengthen the City's ability to continue to provide ‘Top Quality City Services," said Acting Fire Chief, Keith Rowley.