RELEASE: Gottheimer Claws Back $2.3 Million for North Jersey Firefighters

Above: Gottheimer with North Jersey firefighters.

NORTH JERSEY — Today, March 22, 2024, U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) announced that more than $2.3 million in American Rescue Plan Firefighter Grants (ARPFFG) secured by a federal investment have been awarded to local and regional fire departments across North Jersey. These investments will help ensure firefighters have the proper safety equipment to keep our communities safe and will help lower property taxes by reducing the burden on local towns. Grants were awarded to 42 municipalities in the Fifth District, totaling $2,366,700.

Last year, Gottheimer joined with NJ Governor Phil Murphy, local and state leaders, and New Jersey firefighter associations to call for the state to utilize $10 million from the federal American Rescue Plan to secure a new round of investment for New Jersey’s ARPFFG program.

In 2022, Gottheimer and Governor Murphy announced the creation of the American Rescue Plan Firefighter Grant for New Jersey. Since then, the ARPFFG has benefited hundreds of fire departments across the Garden State, with each department clawing back tens of thousands of dollars to invest in gear and equipment they need.

From this grant program, fire departments in the Fifth Congressional District have clawed back more than $3.4 million total.

“This critical $2.3 million investment will not only keep our communities, families, and brave first responders safe, but it will also help lower our property taxes and make life more affordable for Jersey families,” said Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5), a member of the bipartisan Congressional Fire Services Caucus. “These are dollars that don’t have to come out of town budgets. These are our tax dollars that are actually coming back from the federal government to help our families and communities here in Jersey – and not going to the Moocher States.”

The ARPFFG program has helped local fire departments cover the costs of:

• Protective clothing (turnout clothing ensembles, pants, garments, helmets, hoods, gloves, footwear, etc.).
• Cleaning and advanced cleaning equipment.
• Oxygen equipment.
• Personal protective equipment (PPE).
• Fire protection equipment. 

NJ-05 American Rescue Plan Firefighter Grants (ARPFFG) Awardees

• Allendale Borough: $45,000.00
• Bergenfield Borough: $75,000.00
• Cresskill Borough: $54,000.00
• Emerson Borough: $61,000.00
• Englewood City: $45,000.00
• Fair Lawn Borough: $23,000.00
• Fort Lee Borough: $74,000.00
• Glen Rock Borough: $20,000.00
• Hackensack City: $74,000.00
• Harrington Park Borough: $73,000.00
• Leonia Borough: $75,000.00
• Mahwah Township: $75,000.00
• New Milford Borough: $73,000.00
• Northvale Borough: $75,000.00
• Norwood Borough: $22,000.00
• Oradell Borough: $20,000.00
• Palisades Park Borough: $63,700.00
• Paramus Borough: $36,000.00
• Park Ridge Borough: 26,000.00
• Ramsey Borough: $74,000.00
• Ridgefield Park Village: $60,000.00
• Ridgewood Village: $75,000.00
• River Edge Borough: $23,000.00
• Saddle River Borough: $75,000.00
• Teaneck Township: $75,000.00
• Tenafly Borough: $52,000.00
• Waldwick Borough: $55,000.00
• Wyckoff Township: $56,000.00
• Ringwood Borough: $65,000.00
• West Milford Township: $75,000.00
• Andover Township: $75,000.00
• Frankford Township Fire Department: $70,000.00
• Franklin Borough: $60,000.00
• Hamburg Borough: $70,000.00
• Hampton Township: $70,000.00
• Hardyston Township: $15,000.00
• Lafayette Township: $75,000.00
• Montague Township: $30,000.00
• Newton Town: $70,000.00
• Sandyston Township: $36,000.00
• Sussex Borough: $36,000.00
• Wantage Township: $65,000.00

###