Local rescue squads can get $2M in grants from state of Tennessee
FROM STAFF REPORTS
Rescue squads locally and across the state can apply for up to $2 million in grants through the newly created Rescue Squad Grant Program through the Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance and the Tennessee State Fire Marshal’s Office.
Last year, Gov. Bill Lee and the General Assembly approved the funds for the purchase of lifesaving equipment by Tennessee rescue squads.
The money is intended to be used to buy equipment used by rescue squads during responses to emergencies, and to help keep squad members safe.
“This program will help provide resources to Tennessee’s rescue squads, while fulfilling Gov. Lee’s vision of strengthening Tennessee’s rural communities,” said state Fire Marshal and TDCI Commissioner Carter Lawrence.
TDCI Assistant Commissioner of Fire Prevention Gary Farley added, “The men and women who serve Tennessee communities in rescue squads embody the Volunteer State’s spirit at its finest.
“It is a priority of our team to provide them with a way to acquire reliable and effective equipment to serve their communities in much the same way that the Volunteer Firefighter Equipment and Training Grant Program assists Tennessee’s volunteer fire departments,” he said.
To be eligible for the grant money, rescue squads must have active registrations with the Tennessee Secretary of State and be recognized by a local government to provide rescue services.
There are more than 90 rescue squads across the state, which provide a range of emergency services including extrication, structural-collapse response, and swift-water rescue.
Applications received during the submission period will be scored internally and submitted to a seven-member committee who will oversee the award selection. The committee is composed of six members from the Tennessee Rescue Squad Association and TDCI’s Assistant Commissioner of Fire Prevention.
The state said applications will be accepted until Friday, Feb. 10, at 3 p.m. (ET).
Applicants with questions about the grants are asked to contact Director of Education and Outreach Michelle Price at SFMO.grants@tn.gov or 629-259-1713.