Larson Announces $900,400 Grant to the Pleasant Valley Volunteer Fire Department

Barkhamsted, CT – Yesterday, Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) announced a $900,400 Assistance to Firefighter Grant for the Pleasant Valley Volunteer Fire Department (VFD) in Barkhamsted. This grant, which will allow the Pleasant Valley VFD to upgrade its communications system, also supports the Barkhamsted East VFD, Riverton VFD, New Hartford VFD, New Hartford EMS and South End VFD. 

“When Democrats passed the American Rescue Plan, we delivered record relief to local communities to come out of this pandemic in a strong position, and also expanded critical programs that support our police and fire departments,” said Larson. “This $900,400 grant means our firefighters can step up to new challenges with better equipment, ensuring inter-agency communication in service to the community. It was my honor to support the Pleasant Valley Fire Department application.”  

“Congressman Larson has been a strong supporter of our community, which is one of the smallest in his district. He has helped with grants like this one for firefighters' assistance, an earlier one to repair a stream that was damaging our wild and scenic river, and his office staff is always available to help the town or our residents. I am very pleased he is here today so I can personally thank him,” said First Selectman Donald Stein. 

“The Assistance to Firefighters Grant will enable six emergency service agencies in two towns in northwest Connecticut, Barkhamsted and New Hartford, to make a huge leap forward in communications technology- a leap that we could not have afforded and a leap that was necessary to maintain effective communications,” said James Shanley, Chief of the Pleasant Valley Vol. Fire Department. “We will now have much more reliable and powerful equipment for use at emergency scenes in our towns, in neighboring towns and anywhere in the state if needed.” 

“This federal grant program has been a godsend to rural communities like ours who struggle every day to man our apparatus with fewer volunteers, respond to a greater number of calls and pay for very expensive equipment. For this we are grateful to FEMA and our congressional supporters who helped make this happen,” Shanley continued.  

Rep. Larson helped author and pass the American Rescue Plan Act, investing more than $3 million combined in federal aid to the towns of Barkhamsted and New Hartford. Additionally, the legislation increased funding for the AFG by an additional $100 million to modernize and support fire departments and other local public safety agencies across the country. 

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