NEWBURGH – The City of Newburgh’s Fire Department will have full staffing levels for at least another two years as the federal government has approved another $2 million grant to retain 15 full-time firefighters. Two years ago Washington approved the first $2 million grant and that was about to expire.
Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, and Representative Sean Patrick Maloney and city officials all lobbied for the money to be renewed and word came down from Schumer and Gillibrand on Wednesday that it had been.
Mayor Judy Kennedy was thrilled with the news.
“I am very, very happy that we can now keep our firefighters,” the mayor said. “I hated the thought of having to lay any of them off. I am thrilled that they can stay with the unit and they have been a good part of the team.”
Kennedy said hopefully in the future, the city will be able to retain all of the firefighter positions in its own budget.
The federal funding comes from the SAFER – the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response grants program.
