{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["http://cartwright.house.gov//media-center/press-releases/cartwright-announces-start-of-next-round-of-assistance-to-firefighter", "Cartwright Announces Start of Next Round of Assistance to Firefighter Grants (AFG) Application Period", "2014-10-31", "2014", "2014-10", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Matt Cartwright", "C001090", "cartwright.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC\u2013 Today, Congressman Matt Cartwright announced that the Fiscal Year 2014-appropriated Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) program application period opens Monday, November 3, 2014 at 8:00 a.m.; the deadline for all grant applications is Friday, December 5, 2014 at 5:00 p.m.\u00a0 Federal Fiscal Year (FY) 2015 began on October 1, but the Department of Homeland Security only recently finished making all of the FY 2013-appropriate awards; thus, the Department is now commencing the FY 2014-appropriated round.\nThe\u00a0primary goal of the AFG is to meet the firefighting and emergency response needs of fire departments and nonaffiliated emergency medical service organizations. \u00a0Since 2001, AFG has helped firefighters and other first responders to obtain critically needed equipment, protective gear, emergency vehicles, training, and other resources needed to protect the public and emergency personnel from fire and related hazards.\n\u201cA number of Hose Companies and departments in the 17th Congressional District benefitted from the most recent round of AFG grants, I hope to keep that record of success going,\u201d said Cartwright.\u00a0 \u201cSmall towns and cash-strapped cities often cannot afford the equipment and equipment upgrades needed to ensure public safety, and I strongly support this grant program as it helps my local communities make ends meet.\u201d\nThe Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recommends that applicants start their application process as soon as possible by reviewing guidance at www.grants.gov or www.fema.gov.\u00a0 These tools were produced specifically to help potential applicants begin to plan their applications ahead of the application period.\u00a0 The tools can be viewed on the AFG website or can be downloaded to the applicant\u2019s computer.\nRepresentative Cartwright has made his district-based economic development staff available to answer any questions pertaining to the AFG application process. \u00a0\nEconomic Development Specialists:\n Bob Morgan, District Director and Economic Development Specialist, Serving Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties, 570-341-1050, bob.morgan@mail.house.gov\n\tBill Hanley, Senior Economic Development Specialist, Serving Carbon and Schuylkill Counties, 570-624-0140, william.hanley@mail.house.gov\n\tApril Niver, Economic Development Coordinator, Serving Monroe and Northampton Counties, 484-546-0776, april.niver@mail.house.gov\n Regional Fire Program Specialist Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program:\nLori Bainbridge  \n\tFEMA - Region III  \n\tOne Independence Mall, 6th Floor\n615 Chestnut Street  \n\tPhiladelphia, PA 19106  \n\tPhone: (215) 931-5596  \n\tMobile: (215) 495-4280\nlori.bainbridge@fema.dhs.gov", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["http://cartwright.house.gov//media-center/press-releases/cartwright-announces-start-of-next-round-of-assistance-to-firefighter"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.5920749865472317, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}