Compeer Financial’s Fund for Rural America has granted 177 awards through their Emergency Response Equipment Program, including 15 collaboration grants for shared equipment across multiple departments.
These grants aim to ease the financial burden of equipment for community emergency response departments serving Illinois, Minnesota and Wisconsin.
“We understand that rural departments often pool resources and critical life-saving equipment,” says Karen Schieler, senior corporate giving specialist with Compeer Financial. “The spirit of collaboration is strong among emergency departments within Compeer’s territory, and we aspire to make a positive impact on more lives. First responders selflessly give their all when people are in distress, and these tools and resources will prove invaluable in crucial situations.”
In addition to these grants, Compeer Financial completed a cooperative-wide service project in partnership with Operation Gratitude as a thank you to first responders. Team members created more than 4,200 notes of thanks and paracord lanyards to show appreciation for those who serve their communities as first responders.
The 2023 Emergency Response Equipment Collaboration Grants offer up to $10,000 each and will directly impact 33 collaborating departments, involving 816 department members.
The Wisconsin departments receiving the Emergency Response Collaboration Grants include:
- Alma Fire Department, Tri-Community Fire Dept: Battery-operated cutters
- Chetek Fire Department, Weyerhaeuser Fire Department: Portable water pump
- Fredonia Fire Department, Belgium Fire Department: Enclosed trailer, safety vests, traffic cones, warning signs, flares, and lights
- Kickapoo Valley Rescue Squad Inc, LaFarge Area Ambulance: Monitor/defibrillator
- Ridgeway Volunteer Fire Dept Inc, Hollandale Fire Department, Barneveld-Brigham Fire District: Rescue air cushions with a regulator
Additionally, 162 individual departments received Emergency Response Equipment Grants of up to $4,000 each. Since the program’s establishment in 2018, the Fund has distributed 970 Emergency Response Equipment Grants totaling $3 million.
The Wisconsin departments receiving Emergency Response Equipment Grants include:
- Ada Fire Department: A thermal imaging camera
- Beaver Dam Fire & Rescue Department: A ventilation fan
- Belleville Area EMS: Cardiac monitor/defibrillator batteries and charger
- Boltonville Volunteer Fire Department: A thermal imaging camera
- Boscobel Fire Department Inc.: Structure firefighting gloves, axes, cutoff saws
- Brooklyn Fire and EMS Protection District: Harnesses, rope, anchors, stokes basket, CMC clutch, rope bags
- Brownsville Fire Company: Extrication gloves and a lifting cushion
- Brule Fire Department: Metering equipment
- Cambria Community Fire Department: A high elevation monitor
- Chippewa Fire District: Automated external defibrillators
- City of Kiel Fire Department and Ambulance Service: Water rescue suits, boots, rope throw bags, helmets, gloves, and duffel bags
- Clayton Fire Department: SCBA bottles
- Clinton Fire Protection District: Structural fire gloves
- Cobb-Eden Volunteer Fire Department: Turnout gear
- Cornucopia Fire Department: Rescue litter and handles, wheel kit
- Cumberland Fire District: SCBA cylinders
- Durand Fire Department – Durand Fire Relief Association: A hose tester
- Ellsworth Fire Department: Pagers
- Erv’s Sparta Area Fire Protection District: Helmets, hoods, and structural boots
- Farmington Emergency Medical team Inc.: Gas detectors
- Fennimore Fire Department: A thermal imaging camera
- Genoa Harmony Volunteer Fire/EMS Department: A health monitor
- Glenbeulah Fire Department: Hose
- Grand River Fire District: A grain rescue auger and cofferdam
- Hixton Volunteer Fire Department: A stabilization airbags kit
- Howards Grove Fire Department: Extrication rescue airbags
- Jamestown Fire Department: Mobile digital radios
- Ladysmith Fire Department: An extrication spreader and cutter
- Lancaster Fire Department: Thermal imager cameras
- Lauderdale LaGrange Fire Department: A cardiac monitor
- Marquette County EMS: Portable suction units
- Mondovi Fire Department: Cones, signs, and a sign stand
- New Glarus Fire Department: Nozzles, valves, and tips
- Newburg Fire Department: Structural firefighting boots, hoods, and gloves
- Northwestern Municipal EMS, Inc.: IV pumps
- Oakfield Fire Department & EMS: Pagers
- Pepin Emergency Ambulance Service: Combicarriers
- Pigeon Falls Volunteer Fire Department: A positive pressure fan
- Port Washington Fire Department: Traffic safety vests and a drone
- Reedsburg Area Ambulance Service: A stair chair
- Ridgeland Wilson Fire & Rescue: Structural firefighting gear
- Ridgeway Volunteer Fire Dept Inc: EMS gear and helmets
- Roberts-Warren Fire Department: Structural firefighting turnout gear
- Southern Ozaukee Fire and EMS: Pagers
- Spring Valley Area Fire Department: Tablets and a computer
- St Cloud Volunteer Firemens Association Inc.: An air refill station
- Town of Nekimi Volunteer Fire Department: Gas meters
- Union Grove Yorkville Fire Department: Turnout gear
- Washburn Fire Department: An automated external defibrillator and hose
- Wauzeka Fire Department: Hoses
- Winneconne Poygan Fire District: Tools, socket sets, and wrenches
- Woodford Volunteer Fire Department: Firefighter turnout gear
- Yuba Volunteer Fire Department: Radios and a charging station