8 October, 2019
The Town of Hopkinton is pleased to announce that the Hopkinton Fire
Department has been awarded a grant from the FEMA Staffing for Adequate Fire & Emergency
Response ("SAFER") program.
The three-year SAFER grant will allow Hopkinton to hire four new firefighters. The increased
staffing will have a meaningful impact on the Fire Department’s ability to meet its mission by
responding to calls with an effective response force capable of de-escalating emergencies.
“This important public safety funding is critical to meet the Town’s growing emergency services
needs” said Hopkinton Fire Chief Steve Slaman.
Only a small number of the applications to the SAFER grant program receive an award. “I would
like to thank the many Town Departments that participated in this successful proposal. With this
award, the core grant team of Fire Chief Slaman, Deputy Fire Chief Miller, and Ben Sweeney,
the newly hired Procurement and Grants Manager, have succeeded in their effort to improve
safety in Hopkinton" said Town Manager Norman Khumalo.
The SAFER grant will improve the Fire Department's response capabilities in the growing
community. “As a former Hopkinton volunteer firefighter, I have a unique understanding of the
important and life-saving work the Fire Department does every day. This grant will have a
significant impact in Hopkinton that will keep the community and firefighters safe” said
Selectboard Chair Brendan Tedstone.
