$3.7 million in federal grant funding will be used to hire and retain firefighters in Manchester

Central Fire Station in Manchester.

MANCHESTER, NH – More than $3.7 million in federal funding for Manchester Fire Department has been announced to hire and retain an additional 12 firefighters through the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Staffing for Adequate Fire Emergency Response (SAFER) Grants program.

“Every day firefighters answer the call from our communities responding to any number of emergencies,” said Congressman Chris Pappas. “This funding will help Manchester Fire Department recruit and retain twelve more firefighters to ensure they have the personnel to meet the needs of our city. My conversations with first responders continue to make it clear that federal resources like this are critical in supporting their mission to keep our communities safe. I will keep working to secure resources that support New Hampshire firefighters and first responders and their vital public safety work.” 

Fire Chief Ryan Cashin thanked Pappas for his support at the federal level for making sure the city receives such vital funding.

“The men and women of the Manchester Fire Department provide critical public safety services and emergency response to protect the safety and well-being of our community members. This federal funding will enable us to hire an additional twelve firefighters, ensuring we have the personnel to swiftly answer every call,” said Cashin. “Thank you to Congressman Pappas and his office for their help in applying to this grant and committed support for New Hampshire firefighters as well as our mutual goal of making Manchester a safer place to live and be a source of pride for all.”

The SAFER program provides eligible fire departments and volunteer firefighter interest organizations with resources to hire new additional firefighters, to change the status of part-time or paid-on-call firefighters to full-time firefighters, to rehire laid off firefighters or to retain firefighters facing layoff, as well as to recruit and retain volunteer firefighters.

In August, Pappas helped announce more than $2.9 million in federal funding for Granite State firefighters through FEMA’s Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program. In September 2021, the Manchester Fire Department received $1,366,700 in AFG funding, and in Fiscal Year 2023, they received $333,653 in Community Project Funding through Pappas’s office for Emergency Operations Center upgrades.