Woodstock seeks federal funds for new firefighters

Woodstock has applied for a FEMA grant to help pay for three new firefighters. CITY OF WOODSTOCK

Woodstock has applied for a FEMA grant to help pay for three new firefighters. CITY OF WOODSTOCK

Woodstock is seeking $322,965 in federal funds to help pay for three new firefighters over a three-year period.

The Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency provides 75 percent in FEMA funds for the first two years and 35 percent for the third year.

The city’s match will be $43,644 in each of the first two years and $113,475 the third year, for a total applicant share of $200,763, according to an executive summary by Woodstock Fire Chief Dave Soumas to a recent City Council meeting. The total cost of the program, counting federal and local funds, will be $523,728.

The awarding process usually takes about a year, and the city would have one year to begin the project, Soumas said. The application, made on Feb. 10, is Woodstock’s fourth application submitted for the grant.