U.S. Congressman Bill Cassidy, R-Baton Rouge, announced today the Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport will receive $3.65 million in two grants from the U.S. Department of Transportation “to strengthen fire and rescue operations.””The best emergency response is emergency preparedness,” Cassidy said in a news release. “This funding will help put facilities and equipment in place to keep the Baton Rouge airport safe for its employees and passengers.”The first grants is to improve firefighting and rescue facilities and is worth $3 million, according to the release. The $650,500 grant is to help acquire a rescue and firefighting vehicle. The Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport applied for these grants, according to the release, and the grants will be administered by the Federal Aviation Administration, a division within the U.S. Department of Transportation. “I applaud the Airport’s leadership for securing this important funding,” Cassidy said. ——Contact Nicholas Persac at [email protected]