Tester Secures $4.4 Million to Hire Firefighters in Bozeman

Funding will boost staffing through FEMA grant program

Continuing his efforts to support local fire departments and increase staffing, U.S. Senator Jon Tester secured $4,468,644 for the city of Bozeman to hire more firefighters.

As a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Tester secured this funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant program through the 2023 government funding bill. Tester was the only member of Montana’s congressional delegation to vote for the legislation.

“Every day, Montana’s firefighters and first responders put their lives on the line to keep our communities safe, rushing into danger while others run away – and it’s on us to make sure our fire departments are staffed up before disaster strikes,” said Tester. “I’m proud to have secured this funding to hire and train more firefighters in Bozeman, and I’ll keep working to ensure Montana’s firefighters have the tools and resources they need to do their jobs safely and effectively.”  

Tester has been Montana’s leading champion for firefighters. In July, Senator Tester’s Fire Grants and Safety Act was signed into law. This legislation reauthorized the SAFER and Assistance for Firefighter Grants (AFG) through 2028. AFG and SAFER are the main sources of federal funding for firefighters and help departments purchase equipment and increase staffing for fire departments across Montana. Last month, Tester secured more than $300,000 in Assistance to Firefighters Grants for the Fire Services Training School affiliated with Montana State University.

Tester currently serves as Chair of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus. As a senior member of the Appropriations Committee, he also recently secured $648 million for AFG and SAFER in the 2024 government funding bill.

You can read more about Tester’s efforts to support state and federal firefighters HERE.