PEORIA, Ill. — Peoria Fire Chief Shawn Sollberger is celebrating confirmation that his department will indeed receive a massive federal grant which will go toward funding much needed new hires.
Sollberger shared with WMBD News, a letter sent to Peoria staff and fire commanders today.
In the letter, Sollberger explains how the roughly $4M SAFER grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will help his department hire eleven new firefighters.
“We’ll have eleven new faces walking through these thresholds who want to be firefighters, so we’re excited about that.”
Sollberger said folks don’t quite turn out in droves to be firefighters these days, “there were hundreds and hundreds of people who lined up to test, very competitive process and over time,” he said now he “doesn’t know why” that isn’t the case.
Even still, Sollberger encourages any and all prospective firefighters in the community to inquire about opportunities with his department.
He says he will now work with top city staff to go ensure all the SAFER Act grant money is used properly.
