KEENE, N.H. (MyKeeneNow) – The City of Keene has been awarded more than $1.67 million in federal funding through the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response, or SAFER, Grant Program to support the hiring of eight additional firefighters.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security approved the grant on September 25th, providing $1,676,431 in federal funding over three years. The program is designed to help fire departments increase staffing levels and provide adequate protection from fires and other emergencies.

According to City Manager Elizabeth Ferland, accepting the grant would require additional city funding to cover the required local match and the long-term costs of the new positions.

Under the grant’s cost-sharing structure, the city would be responsible for 25 percent of the cost during each of the first two years, amounting to approximately $226,000 annually. In the third year, the city’s share would increase to 65 percent, or approximately $589,000.

Beginning in the fourth year, the city would be responsible for the full cost of the positions, estimated at approximately $1 million annually, with anticipated wage and benefit increases also factored into the first three years.

The city would also need to appropriate additional funding during the first year for equipment, protective gear and training associated with the new positions. That cost is estimated at up to $131,000.

The federal award totals approximately $2.72 million when the required local contribution is included, with the federal government covering about $1.68 million and the city responsible for approximately $1.04 million over the three-year grant period.

Ferland said the Fire Staffing Committee will meet to develop a recommendation on how the city should proceed.

The grant acceptance, recommended staffing plan and any necessary funding requests will then be brought before the Keene City Council for consideration. Although FEMA has approved the grant, Keene must still formally accept the award and secure City Council approval of the staffing plan and required local funding before moving forward.

The grant’s performance period is scheduled to run from March 24th, 2027, through March 23rd, 2030. The award supports eight new firefighter positions, but the city has not yet finalized its staffing plan or approved the additional funding needed to accept the grant.