N.C. Insurance Commissioner and State Fire Marshal Wayne Goodwin recently announced that almost $1.5 million in grant funding has been awarded to rescue and EMS organizations across the state. Five local organizations were among those to receive grant funds.
The Polk County Rescue Squad received $24,994.08, the Green Creek Volunteer Fire Department received $3,965, the Mill Spring Volunteer Fire Department received $11,989.70, and the Sunny View Fire and Rescue received $15,000, and the Tryon Volunteer Fire Department received $30,000.
The funding is provided by the Volunteer Rescue/EMS fund, which was created by the North Carolina General Assembly to financially assist North Carolina’s volunteer emergency personnel. Under the direction of Insurance Commissioner Goodwin, the fund program helps rescue/EMS organizations purchase equipment and make capital expenditures. Rescue organizations may apply for up to $25,000 in dollar-for-dollar matching grants per fiscal year, and rescue organizations having cash assets of less than $1,000 may apply for non-matching grants up to $3,000.
“Rescue and EMS organizations selflessly serve our communities large and small, and their budgets don’t always match the magnitude of their responsibilities,” Goodwin said. “It is important that our state helps support them by providing the means by which they can obtain the best equipment to do their jobs safely and effectively.”
The state received 160 Volunteer Rescue/EMS Fund applications for the 2011 program, which had $1,460,764.27 available for the grants. Of those applications, 136 were approved for a total distribution amount of $1,456,049.12. The surplus money will be placed in the 2012 Volunteer Rescue/EMS fund for distribution to future applicants.
The Volunteer Rescue/EMS Fund has disbursed more than $27 million since 1989.
– article submitted by Lizz Wall