FREEPORT (WIFR) -- It cost about $10,000 for the Freeport Fire Department to send one of it's firefighters to receive training, but that's about to change thanks to a federal grant.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency awarded the City of Freeport a $53,000 Homeland Security Grant. The money will allow the fire department to send around 10 firefighters to receive training as an E.M.T., fire investigator or supervisors.

Freeport Fire Chief Kevin Countryman says without the grant it would be difficult to offer this training.

"Over the past few years fire departments in cities, municipalities are experiencing s tough economic times and unfortunately one of the areas that is normally trimmed is the training budgets so this should help us provide a better service," Countryman said.

Freeport Mayor George Gualrapp says this grant helps the fire department's budget and since he has become mayor, the City of Freeport has received around nine-million dollars in grants.