Fire departments receive grants
NEW ULM — Rural fire departments will benefit from Minnesota Department of Natural Resources volunteer fire assistance grants.
The DNR Rural Fire Department program provides financial and technical assistance to Minnesota fire departments in cities or communities with populations under 10,000. Grant recipients will use the funds for fire protection within existing state and county rural fire protection plans.
Communities provide a 50 percent match to their grant. Priority is given to fire departments that have the greatest need. Other considerations include the type of project, number of fire runs and number of previous years funded by the DNR.
“The Minnesota DNR volunteer fire assistance grant program helps to protect our rural communities,” said DNR Commissioner Tom Landwehr. “The grants help fund critical programs for Minnesota’s volunteer fire departments such as emergency communications, protective gear, or even fire hoses. We’re proud to partner with those departments.”
In 2018, 159 local fire departments across the state will receive $435,700 in matching grants. Since 2012, rural fire departments in Minnesota have received just over $2 million in grant money.
More information on the DNR Volunteer Fire Assistance Grant program can be found at www.mndnr.gov/grants/ruralfire/volunteer.html.
Grant awards listed by county (for some nearby counties):
Blue Earth
Pemberton Fire Dept. $5,000
South Bend Fire Dept. $2,500
Brown
Springfield Fire Dept. $2,000
Cottonwood
Mountain Lake Fire Dept. $5,000
Nicollet
Nicollet Fire Dept. $2,300
Redwood
Belview Fire Dept. $2,500
Milroy Fire Dept. $700
Redwood Falls Fire Dept. $5,000
Sanborn Fire Dept. $2,600
Wabasso Fire Dept. $2,500
Walnut Grove Fire Dept. $500