By Nathan McBride
The News-Sentinel

FORT WAYNE, Ind. — The Fort Wayne Fire Department is hoping to receive a portion of $210 million in Firefighters Fire Station Construction Grants to make upgrades to a downtown fire station.

The construction grants, announced June 10, were made available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which originally provided the Federal Emergency Management Agency with $510 million in grant funds. From there, $210 million was designated for fire station construction and repairs.

The grants will provide financial assistance directly to fire departments, on a competitive basis, to build or modify existing stations to enhance departments' response capabilities.

Amy Biggs, FWFD assistant chief, said although her department will take any amount it can get, one particular station in Fort Wayne needs assistance. Station No.1, at the corner of East Main and Lafayette streets, is in need of "green initiatives," as Biggs called it. The station needs work on its air conditioning and heating units.

Kim Bennett, Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Pence's deputy district director, said a grant similar to the construction grant has never been offered before. "The Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program provides dollars for equipment and vehicles, but nothing has ever been available for construction," Bennett said.

The construction grants will be distributed to a variety of fire departments, including paid, volunteer and combination fire departments, by Sept. 30, 2010.

It is a peer-review process evaluated on project description, financial need, cost/benefit and effect on daily operations.

Copyright 2009 The News-Sentinel