The West Bend Fire Department has been awarded $74,995.45 through the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Assistance to Firefighters Grant program.
The grant, which requires a 10 percent local match, will support standardized incident command training and certification for West Bend fire and rescue personnel, as well as training opportunities for the department’s mutual-aid partners. The department plans to use training funds already included in the current budget year to meet the local match requirement.
The award program also includes a Train-the-Trainer component, which will allow West Bend to certify internal employees to continue providing training and professional development beyond the initial grant-funded period.
“This grant represents a meaningful investment in the safety and effectiveness of our fireground operations,” said West Bend Fire Chief Les Norin in a press release. “Standardized incident command training strengthens how we manage complex emergencies, improves coordination among our personnel, and creates greater interoperability with the mutal-aid partners we routinely work alongside. Just as importantly, we can make that investment without placing an additional financial burden on local taxpayers.”
Division Chief Alec Hakes and Battalion Chief Joseph Weinert have begun planning for implementation of the project, which has a two-year period of performance running from Sept. 28, 2026, through Sept. 27, 2028.
Established in 2001, the AFG program provides direct funding to local fire departments and emergency medical services organizations nationwide for critical equipment, training and protective gear. The program made $291.6 million available for Fiscal Year 2025, and, as of late September 2026, $264.8 million has been awarded through nearly 1,400 individual grants.
FEMA’s Assistance to Firefighters Grant program provides funding to help fire departments and other eligible emergency-service organizations equip and train emergency personnel, enhance operational efficiency, foster interoperability and strengthen community resilience. The FY 2025 program anticipates approximately $291.6 million in total funding for the program.