In the News

SPRINGFIELD — The city will use a $1.1 million grant to hire eight new firefighters, allowing the Springfield Fire Department to add two firefighters to each shift.

Officials announced the $1,138,310 grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency at the Raymond M. Sullivan Public Safety Complex on Carew Street Tuesday. The grant is awarded over a three-year period under the SAFER (Staffing for Adequate Fire & Emergency Response) program, local officials said.

Mayor Domenic J. Sarno, U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, D-Springfield, and Fire Commissioner Bernard J. Calvi made the announcement.

The city will contribute matching funds of $707,710 over the three-year period, city officials said.

FEMA also awarded the city a grant of approximately $95,455 for firefighter turnout gear extractor washing machines. The city will provide 10% matching funds. The money will help replace seven older and damaged machines, officials said.

Calvi said the federal grants are “very important for both the safety of the citizens of the City of Springfield and the Springfield firefighters.”

"The SAFER Grant enables us to place an additional two firefighters on each shift and the Fire Act Grant enables us to more efficiently launder and clean carcinogens from our protective clothing," Calvi said.

Sarno praised Neal, who is the House Ways and Means Chairman, as well as Calvi, and the city's grant writers.

“Once again, Chairman Neal comes through for our Springfield and his district,” Sarno said. “I’m very thankful to Richie, once a Mayor, always the heart of a mayor.”

Holyoke Mayor Alex B. Morse announced in July that he will challenge Neal, who is a 30-year incumbent, in the 2020 Democratic primary for Congress.

Neal took part in recent announcements of SAFER grants received by the Holyoke and Easthampton fire departments.

Holyoke received a $730,280 SAFER grant to pay the salaries and benefits of six new firefighters for three years.

Easthampton will get $604,706 to hire four new firefighters.

Neal said the Springfield grant helps the Fire Department in its daily mission of protecting the lives of the residents of the city.

“Congratulations to Mayor Sarno and Commissioner Calvi on their steadfast commitment to applying for an securing these extremely competitive grants,” Neal said.