State Senator Scott Bennett (D-Champaign) announced this week that a more than $25,000 grant has been awarded to the Carroll Township Fire Protection District as part of the state’s Small Equipment Grant Program.
“We need our firefighters in good equipment to go out and save lives,” Bennett said. “Funding is already difficult for rural volunteer fire departments, and this grant is a great opportunity to help with the deficit in funds for much needed equipment.”
The Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal awarded the grant to give Illinois first responders the opportunity to replace or upgrade aging equipment they may otherwise not be able to purchase.
The program is an innovative approach to a problem that has long caused difficulties for fire departments and not-for-profit ambulance services in the state, particularly those that struggle to generate the necessary revenue for small equipment, such as air-packs and portable radios.
In total, the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal awarded $3.5 million in grants to 154 fire departments, fire districts and EMS providers.
