Several area public safety agencies were selected to receive federal funding that will be used to aid in preventing, preparing and responding to the coronavirus, the Baker-Polito Administration announced in a press release.
The Billerica and Pepperell Police departments, and the Acton and Tewksbury Fire departments were among the agencies selected to receive part of the nearly $10 million in federal Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental Funding Program grants, the release issued Tuesday stated.
The grants were awarded to the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security’s Office of Grants and Research from the U.S. Department of Justice, according to the release.
“These awards to municipal departments and state agencies across the Commonwealth demonstrate our commitment to providing our police officers, firefighters, and other public safety personnel with the necessary tools to effectively serve their communities while continuing to fight a pandemic,” Gov. Charlie Baker stated.
Eligible municipalities were invited to solicit up to $50,000 in total funding to benefit their police and fire department needs. In total, 65 fire departments and 44 police departments representing 94 cities and towns will directly benefit from the awards.
“These grants will help aid local municipalities to purchase the additional safeguards necessary to protect our front-line workers against COVID-19,” Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito stated in the release. “Massachusetts has made great strides in slowing the spread of this virus, and we will continue to support our local heroes with the resources they need to protect themselves and their communities.”
Below are the public safety agency awardees, recommended grant total, and request summary:
- Acton Fire Department, $50,000, for powered air-purifying respirators (PAPRs), UV disinfectant lighting, COVID-19 testing for members, glogerm powder/mist/lotion/UV flashlights, N95 respirators, touchless hand sanitizer/soap/paper towel dispensers, overtime
- Ashby Fire Department, $11,109, for washable uniforms
- Billerica Police Department, $39,793, Max Air PAPRs
- Pepperell Police Department, $15,610.42, for PPE, plumbing work and permit, electrical work and permit, system for laundry decontamination, disinfection sprayer
- Princeton Fire Department, $25,000, road signage, per diem pay, training for first responders, communication equipment, PPE, ozone and hydrogen sterilization
- Princeton Police Department, $24,988.49, overtime, gloves, face shields, sanitizer, disinfectant
- Rutland Fire Department, $25,000, portable radios
- Rutland Police Department, $25,000, portable radios
- Sterling Police Department, $12,586.65, disinfectant sprayer, tank disposable liner, N95 masks, safety glasses, Tyvek suits, face shields, gloves
- Tewksbury Fire Department, $50,000, overtime for operation of a third ambulance
- Townsend Police Department, $29,000 for scheduling and training software, fingerprint/palm print scanner
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