Lexington, KY—U.S. Congressman Andy Barr (R-KY) announced that he delivered funding for two new fire trucks for Fire Departments in North Middletown and Stamping Ground today. This marks the second time in three months Congressman Barr has delivered new funding to strengthen fire and emergency services across Kentucky’s Sixth District. Barr championed the two grants through the Community Project Funding (CPF) process, and the projects totaling nearly $800,000 were approved in the most recent government funding bill last week.
For North Middletown, the $474,500 grant will enable the purchase of a new fire engine, the city’s first in 24 years. With a reserve truck now 42 years old, city leaders raised concerns regarding equipment reliability and the potential risks to community safety. The new engine will significantly enhance the department’s emergency response capabilities.
Officials in Stamping Ground sought Congressman Barr’s support for their $300,000 grant request, noting that a new pumper truck would be an economic benefit for the city.
“Our firefighters are the first line of defense for so many emergencies throughout our communities. I’ll always fight to give our departments the next generation of equipment to keep our communities safe,” said Congressman Barr.
“The North Middletown Volunteer Fire Department, the City of North Middletown and the entire North Middletown community is excited to learn of the approval of our Community Project Funding request. This grant will help us in the purchase of a new fire apparatus, which will increase our abilities for emergency responses. We want to thank Congressman Barr for his help in securing this grant. Without his help this would not have been possible,” said Jeff McFarland, who serves as the Mayor and Chief of the North Middleton Fire Department.
“For the second time this year, Congressman Barr has brought home crucial federal funding to help our Department. We were approved for self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) packs earlier this year to keep our firefighters safe on calls, and now, this new fire truck will improve our response on calls. We want to thank Congressman Barr and his team for working to get the job done for us in Washington,” said Stamping Ground’s Fire Chief Robert Hendricks.