Coral Springs secures more than $3 million in FEMA grants to strengthen fire department staffing and emergency response
Coral Springs, Florida – The City of Coral Springs has secured more than $3 million in federal grant funding that will allow the Coral Springs-Parkland Fire Department to hire additional firefighters, improve emergency response capabilities and expand health, wellness and fire safety programs.
The funding comes through three competitive Federal Emergency Management Agency grant programs. The awards will support new personnel, firefighter training and wellness initiatives, along with a new mobile resource designed to teach residents about fire and life safety.
City officials said the federal money will also help limit the amount of local funding needed for the improvements.
“Pursuing grants and alternative funding opportunities is an important part of our commitment to strong financial stewardship while continuing to provide premier services to our community,” City Manager Catherine Givens said. “I am grateful to our staff whose hard work and collaboration helped secure these competitive awards. Their efforts allow us to make important investments in public safety while reducing the financial impact on local taxpayers.”
The largest portion of the funding comes from FEMA’s Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response Grant Program, commonly known as SAFER.
Coral Springs received $2,670,793 through the program to hire 12 new firefighters for the Coral Springs-Parkland Fire Department.
The additional firefighters will be assigned to strengthen staffing for some of the department’s busiest units. City officials said the added personnel are expected to improve safety for both firefighters and the public while also allowing crews to operate more effectively during emergency calls.
Increasing the number of available firefighters will also help the department maintain appropriate personnel response levels during emergencies.
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The funding is expected to assist CSPFD in meeting NFPA 1710 standards, which address staffing and response requirements for fire departments providing emergency services.
Fire Chief John Whalen said the three federal awards will provide benefits both to firefighters and the residents they serve.
“These grants are a significant investment in the safety of both our firefighters and the communities we serve,” Fire Chief John Whalen said. “Adding 12 firefighters will strengthen our ability to respond effectively when our community needs us most, while the additional funding allows us to invest in the health and readiness of our personnel and expand the fire and life safety education we provide to our residents. We are grateful for the support that made these opportunities possible.”
A second grant will focus on public education.
Coral Springs was one of only six cities in Florida selected for funding through FEMA’s Fire Prevention and Safety Grant Program.
The city received $275,238 through the program to purchase a new fire safety and emergency training trailer.
The mobile trailer will give CSPFD another way to bring fire prevention and emergency preparedness education directly into the community. It will be used to provide interactive, hands-on instruction for children and families.
The department’s goal is to expand its existing fire and life safety education efforts by using the trailer as a mobile resource that can reach residents in different parts of the community.
The third federal award will focus directly on the firefighters themselves.
FEMA awarded Coral Springs another $90,909 through its Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program. That funding will be used for comprehensive health, wellness and educational training for Coral Springs-Parkland firefighters.
The planned programs will include specialized training and wellness initiatives aimed at keeping personnel physically prepared for the demands of emergency response work.
Funding will also be directed toward efforts designed to reduce occupational injuries and support firefighters’ long-term health and safety.
Taken together, the three FEMA grants represent a federal investment of more than $3 million in CSPFD’s personnel, emergency operations, firefighter wellness and public education efforts.
The city also credited its federal partners for supporting the applications.
Letters of support were provided by Congressman Jared Moskowitz, U.S. Sen. Ashley Moody and U.S. Sen. Rick Scott as Coral Springs pursued the federal funding.
The awards continue a broader effort by the city to seek grants and other sources of outside funding rather than relying entirely on local revenue to pay for projects and programs.
City officials have focused on competitive grants, government appropriations and other alternative funding sources as ways to move community priorities forward while reducing costs that would otherwise fall on local taxpayers.
That strategy has resulted in millions of dollars in outside funding during the current fiscal year.
Coral Springs secured a total of $8,045,534 in grant funding during Fiscal Year 2026, according to the city.
Those grants have supported a range of local priorities beyond the latest investments in the fire department. Funding has gone toward public safety and emergency preparedness as well as infrastructure, training, community programs and other strategic needs.
The latest FEMA awards add to that total while directing significant new resources toward emergency services.
For CSPFD, the most visible change will be the addition of 12 firefighters. The department will also gain a new tool for educating families about fire and emergency safety, while existing personnel will have access to additional health, wellness and training resources.
City officials said those investments are intended to improve both immediate emergency response and the department’s longer-term readiness.
At the same time, the grants allow Coral Springs to make those improvements with federal funding, reducing the amount of money that would otherwise need to come from local taxpayers.
With more than $8 million in grants secured during Fiscal Year 2026, Coral Springs plans to continue pursuing competitive funding opportunities that can support city services, public safety and other community priorities.
