$34K Grant Awarded To Bayville Fire Department

BERKELEY, NJ — The Bayville Fire Department was awarded a $34,000 grant from the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA) to purchase new equipment and protective gear, officials said.

Ten million dollars in American Rescue Plan Firefighter Grants was distributed to 293 fire departments statewide after a competitive application process "to ensure firefighters have proper protective, cleaning, and sanitization equipment during this time of heightened community need," the DCA said in a release.

"This grant will enable the Township to purchase NEW Turnout Gear for our volunteer firefighters of the Bayville Vol. Fire Company. We thank our Grant Writers - Bruno and Associates - for administering the application on behalf of our Township and the State and Federal Government for providing the opportunity to apply for and ultimately receive this grant," Mayor Carmen Amato said.

According to the DCA, grant applications were reviewed on the following criteria:

• Scope of fire department need as demonstrated by equipment need, number of service calls, number of active firefighters, and population of service area.
• Impact of COVID-19 on the fire department as demonstrated by the impact of the virus on the firehouse and its personnel and the local impact of COVID-19 as it relates to fire department activities and response.
• Level of commitment to protecting firefighters as demonstrated by the local match to the grant funding and other grants for protective equipment or other firefighting projects.

"Equipping our firefighters with the proper gear is crucial to allowing them to safely and
successfully do their jobs," said Gov. Phil Murphy. "The health and safety of our essential
workers is of the utmost importance to this Administration. I am grateful to DCA for recognizing
these departments' needs and awarding funding to provide this equipment."

"Having appropriate gear, clothing, and equipment is critical for firefighters' physical and mental health, particularly for those who serve in fire departments with limited operating budgets and large numbers of volunteers," said Lt. Governor Sheila Oliver, who serves as DCA Commissioner. "For this reason, DCA is proud to help fire departments pay for these important resources so firefighters can safely and effectively serve the people in their communities."