The Bradenton Fire Department applied for and received an $847,384 grant in August, paid for by the Federal Emergency Management Agency through the Staffing for Adequate Fire & Emergency Response grant program.
The funds will pay for the salaries for six new firefighters for the next three years, bringing the city’s fire department to personnel levels not seen since prior to the Great Recession.
The city eliminated six firefighter positions during the Great Recession as part of significant cuts to personnel across the board. The downfall to the grant is when it expires, the city will have to find a way to fund the positions permanently or terminate them. Economic Development Director Carl Callahan said the intent is to keep the firefighters long term.