Chester Receives FEMA Grant
Chester Township is proud to announce that it is the recipient of a 2024 US Department of Homeland Security grant in the amount of $244,761.90. As part of the ‘Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program’ administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), this grant program supports protecting the health and safety of the public and also of emergencies responded to by the Chester Volunteer Fire Company and Chester First Aid Squad against fire and fire-related hazards. The Township is pleased to direct this award towards the purchase of a new ambulance with bench seating and a stretcher.
As a condition of this grant award, the Township and Borough will contribute a match of 5%, or $12,238.10, to bring the total to $257,000 to meet the purchase price of the ambulance. The Township will contribute 82% of the match and the Borough, 18%. “This is a big win for the taxpayers of Chester Township and Chester Borough,” says Mayor Tim Drag. “Through the efforts of our CFO, Derek Macchia, and the dedicated volunteers of the Chester First Aid Squad (CFAS), we are able to deliver almost a quarter million dollars in grant money to our community. With this grant, CFAS will have the tools to continue providing high quality emergency services with the most advanced equipment available.”
The Township, in coordination with CFAS, hopes to purchase the ambulance as soon as possible. This vehicle will serve both the Township and Borough and increase the capacity of our emergency services to meet demand and enhance our community’s health and safety for many years to come.