Rep. Craig Secures More than $2.6 Million in Federal Funding for Shakopee Fire

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Representative Angie Craig announced that Shakopee Fire will receive $2,632,890 in federal funding through the Federal Emergency Management Administration’s (FEMA) Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant program to hire 12 new full-time firefighters. Rep. Craig was a strong advocate for this funding, writing a letter to FEMA in support of the City of Shakopee’s application in July of this year.

With this funding, the Shakopee Fire Department will be able to grow their force to meet National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1720 standards. The department currently relies on just six full-time and 30 part-time firefighters to cover calls from Shakopee and the two neighboring townships of Louisville and Jackson as well as from mutual aid agreement cities such as Savage, Prior Lake, Jordan and the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community.

“As Shakopee and the surrounding communities continue to grow, it is critical that the Shakopee Fire Department is able to meet the needs of Minnesotans in the southern Twin Cities metro region,” said Rep. Craig. “I am incredibly proud to have worked with the City of Shakopee and Shakopee FD to secure this much-needed funding that will help the department better serve and protect countless Minnesotans.”  

“The SAFER grant funding is critical to the Shakopee Fire Department’s ability to meet the growing demands of our community," said Shakopee Fire Chief Joe Simon. "It marks a significant step toward achieving the staffing levels necessary to provide the level of service our residents and neighboring communities expect and deserve. The addition of 12 full-time firefighters will greatly enhance our emergency response capabilities and help us move closer to meeting national standards. This support ensures we can continue to protect our expanding population with efficiency and a more effective response force. We are deeply grateful for the support of Congresswoman Craig and her staff in championing this important initiative.”

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