CONCORD - Gov. John Lynch today encouraged local communities looking to construct, expand or renovate fire stations to apply for grants funded through the federal stimulus act.

The goal of this funding is to preserve and create jobs, while promoting firefighter safety and improved response capability.

“As the national recession continues to impact the state and local communities and we must work to ensure that even during these difficult economic times we continue to support critical public safety functions,” Gov. Lynch said. “These grants will help communities that are struggling in these difficult economic times and will also create and retain good-paying construction jobs.”

These funds are being made available through the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program administered through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

For more information about the grants or to apply go to http://www.fema.gov/grants or www.grants.gov.

Information regarding the federal stimulus package can be found on the homepage Governor’s Office of Economic Stimulus at www.nh.gov/recovery.