More than $13.2 million in federal fire grants is headed to departments across Upstate New York, with a significant share going to the Mohawk Valley. Federal Fire Grants Exceed $13.2 Million for Upstate NY. U.S. Sens. Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand announced the awards Tuesday, Sept. 29, including $186,545.45 for the Utica Fire Department and more than $614,000 for the Frankfort Center Fire Department.
The grants come through programs administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA. The money can support firefighter equipment, protective gear, training, staffing and other public-safety needs.
Mohawk Valley departments receive more than $2 million
According to the senators’ announcement, 11 Mohawk Valley recipients were included in the latest round of federal funding. Together, the listed Mohawk Valley awards total just over $2 million.
- Hagaman Volunteer Fire Department: $640,000 through the Assistance to Firefighters Grant program.
- Frankfort Center Fire Department: $614,545 through the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response program.
- Utica Fire Department: $186,545.45 through the Assistance to Firefighters Grant program.
- Town of Glen Volunteer Fire Department: $178,533.33.
- Rockwood-Garoga-Lassellsville Volunteer Fire Department: $132,200.
- Stratford Volunteer Fire Department: $105,142.85.
- Volunteer Fire Company of Vernon: $100,523.80.
- Village of West Winfield: $64,840.95.
- Volunteer Fire Company of Western: $63,690.47.
- Kuyahoora Volunteer Ambulance Corps in Poland: $49,942.85.
- East Herkimer Fire District: $44,495.23.
Most of those awards are from the Assistance to Firefighters Grant program, commonly called AFG. The Frankfort Center award is a SAFER grant, a program focused on helping departments increase or maintain trained frontline staffing.
What the federal fire grant programs pay for
FEMA’s Assistance to Firefighters Grants are designed to help eligible fire departments, emergency medical service organizations and other fire-service groups meet equipment and training needs. The U.S. Fire Administration says the broader grant programs can support expenses such as equipment, apparatus, training and salaries needed to protect communities.
SAFER grants have a more specific staffing mission. FEMA says they are intended to help departments increase or maintain the number of trained frontline firefighters available in their communities.
The latest Upstate awards also include Fire Prevention and Safety funding. The Firemen’s Association of the State of New York received $476,190.47 under that program, while the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services received a $500,000 statewide AFG award.
Syracuse receives $857,000 for driver training
Central New York also received several awards. The largest listed grant in that region went to the City of Syracuse, which received $857,024.54.
Syracuse Fire Chief Michael J. Monds said the funding will allow nearly 400 department members to receive classroom driver training and hands-on practice with fire apparatus.
“Better prepared drivers mean safer responses for our firefighters, the people we serve, and everyone who shares the road with us,” Monds said in the senators’ release.
Other Central New York awards went to departments in Fulton, Union Springs, Auburn and Cortland County.
Why these grants matter to local departments
Fire departments face costs that can be difficult for local budgets to absorb, especially when equipment must meet modern safety standards. Federal grants can supplement local tax dollars and fundraising, although the specific effect of each award depends on the approved project and grant conditions.
For the Mohawk Valley, the awards cover a mix of urban, rural and volunteer emergency services. The list includes the Utica Fire Department as well as smaller volunteer organizations serving communities such as Vernon, Westernville, Stratford and St. Johnsville.
Schumer said the funding would put resources directly into firefighters’ hands. Gillibrand said the grants are intended to address training, equipment and staffing needs. Their statements were part of the joint announcement and reflect the senators’ characterization of the awards.
Programs extended through 2030
The senators’ office said the Fire Grants and Safety Act, enacted in 2024 with bipartisan support, extended authorization for the AFG and SAFER programs through fiscal year 2030. FEMA awards the grants competitively to eligible applicants based on program priorities and demonstrated needs.
FEMA and the U.S. Fire Administration describe AFG, SAFER and Fire Prevention and Safety as related programs with different goals. AFG focuses heavily on equipment and training. SAFER addresses frontline staffing, including recruitment and retention. Fire Prevention and Safety grants support prevention work and firefighter safety research.
What Mohawk Valley residents should watch next
The grant announcement identifies the recipients and award amounts, but local departments may provide more detail about how each award will be used as projects move forward. Residents can watch municipal and fire district announcements for information on purchases, training, hiring or other grant-funded work.
For Utica-area readers, the most immediate local awards include $186,545.45 for the Utica Fire Department, $614,545 for Frankfort Center Fire Department, $100,523.80 for the Volunteer Fire Company of Vernon, $63,690.47 for the Volunteer Fire Company of Western and $44,495.23 for the East Herkimer Fire District.
Sources: Office of U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer, Sept. 29, 2026; U.S. Fire Administration/FEMA fire service grants and funding.
