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Emergency Services Grant Program Clears Committee
HARRISBURG -- The
Senate Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee today approved a
bill that would pave the way for an anticipated $25 million in grants for
volunteer fire companies and ambulance services, according to Senator Don White,
R-41st District and committee Chairman.
House Bill 599, which would
establish the Volunteer Fire Company and the Volunteer Ambulance Service Grant
Act for Fiscal Year 2005-06, is now headed to the full Senate for consideration.
The bill was approved 188-1 by the House of Representatives on March 16.
Grants would be used to improve
and enhance the capabilities of volunteer fire companies and ambulance services
across the Commonwealth. Based on an anticipated $25 million line item in the
2005-06 state budget, $22 million would be reserved for fire company grants and
$3 million for ambulance service grants.
“We owe a debt of gratitude to
our volunteer firefighters and EMS crews,” Senator White said. “They provide a
tremendous and invaluable service to our communities. With these grants, we can
show our support for their work. We can help them buy new equipment or improve
their stations.”
Grants to volunteer fire and
rescue companies would range from a minimum of $2,500 to a maximum of $15,000
and could be used for construction or renovation of the fire company’s primary
structure; purchase or repair of firefighting, ambulance or rescue equipment;
training; or debt reduction associated with the above.
Grants to volunteer ambulance
services would range from $2,500 to $10,000 and could be used for construction
or renovation of the ambulance company’s primary structure; purchase or repair
of ambulance equipment; office equipment and support services, training; or debt
reduction associated with the above.
The grant programs would be
administered by PEMA. PEMA would be required to provide applications to eligible
grantees by July 31, 2005. Completed grant applications would have to be
submitted to PEMA by December 31, 2005. All applications would then have to be
approved or disapproved by May 1, 2006.
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