Firefighters Association Applauds Governor Hochul’s Expansion of Volunteer Training Programs Stipend
April 23, 2026 Albany, New York — Yesterday, Governor Kathy Hochul announced that the New York’s Volunteer Firefighter Training Stipend program will be expanding to include five additional training courses available for volunteer firefighters. The Firefighters Association of the State of New York (FASNY) applauds the governor’s efforts, which will increase access to these training stipends. The program can be used to help recruit firefighters by providing a stipend to acknowledge the time and potential financial impacts on new recruits and fire officers and their families associated with attending these important classes.
“On behalf of New York’s volunteer firefighters, we thank Governor Hochul for the expansion of this already successful training stipend program to support new recruits and fire service leaders,” said Firefighters Association of the State of New York President Eugene Perry. “FASNY has been working with the State and the entire New York fire service to increase recruitment of new volunteers for a long time, and we welcome the growth of the training stipend program, which provides support to these new firefighters and officers while they undertake these vitally important training programs.”
FASNY held an educational webinar to assist volunteer firefighters in implementing this recruitment and retention tool when the program began in 2023. Firefighters who have completed approved training courses included in the program after August 2023 can qualify for stipends and are encouraged to apply. Visit OFPC regarding additional details about this program.
###