Compeer Financial’s Fund for Rural America, the Farm Credit cooperative’s giving program, has awarded 177 grants as part of their Emergency Response Equipment Program, including 15 new collaboration grants for equipment shared by multiple departments.
Emergency Response Equipment Grants help to offset the cost of equipment that community emergency response departments need to carry out their important work throughout rural America. Additionally, the new Emergency Response Equipment Collaboration Grant highlighted the critical need for teamwork between volunteer fire, rescue and ambulance departments when responding to emergencies.
“We know rural departments often share resources and important pieces of life-saving equipment,” said Karen Schieler, senior corporate giving specialist with Compeer Financial. “The spirit of collaboration is strong for emergency departments across Compeer’s territory and we hope these grants can help impact even more lives. First responders give so much when people are in need, and these tools and resources will help in critical situations.”
The 2022 Emergency Response Equipment Collaboration Grants are for up to $10,000; and will directly impact 41 collaborating departments, 872 department members, 3,239 square miles of coverage and 121,007 residents. This year was the first time this grant was offered.
The departments receiving the Emergency Response Collaboration Grants include:
Wisconsin
- Alma Center Community Fire Department & Merrillan Volunteer Fire Department: battery-operated extrication spreader
- Burnett Fire Department & Horicon Fire Department: extrication ram
- Menomonie Fire Department, Boyceville EMS, Colfax Ambulance & Elmwood EMS: mechanical chest compression system
- Rio Fire Department, Wyocena Fire Department & Doylestown Fire Department: breathing air compressor
- Sharon Fire and Rescue, Darien Fire and EMS Department, Walworth Fire and EMS Department & Medic 391 – Shared Paramedic Ambulance Service: battery-operated combination spreader/cutter extrication tool
- Town of Campbell Fire Department & La Crescent Fire Department: respirator fit testing machine
Illinois
- Manlius Fire Protection District & Sheffield Fire Protection District: battery-operated extrication spreader
- Schuyler County EMS & Schuyler County Rescue Squad: mechanical chest compression system
- Sheridan Community Fire Protection District & Serena Community Fire Protection District: mechanical chest compression system
- Sublette Fire Protection District & West Brooklyn Fire Protection District: mechanical chest compression system
- Toluca-Rutland Fire Protection District, Wenona Fire Protection District, Lostant Fire Protection District & Minonk Fire Protection District: respirator fit testing machine
Minnesota
- Dovray Fire Department & Westbrook Fire Department: battery-operated combination auto extrication spreader and cutter
- Gibbon Fire and Rescue & Green Isle Fire and Rescue: respirator fit testing machine
- Randolph-Hampton Fire Department & Cannon Falls Fire Department: hose tester
- Spring Grove Fire Department, Spring Grove Ambulance & Eitzen Fire Department: stackable airbags for controlled lifting
Additionally, 162 individual departments received Emergency Response Equipment Grants for up to $4,000. Since the program was established in 2018, the Fund has awarded 808 Emergency Response Equipment Grants totaling $2.4 million.
The Fund intends to offer both of these grants again in August 2023.
Leave a Reply