Emergency service providers to get $825,000 in grants
Dozens of emergency service providers across Berks County will receive a combined $825,000 in grants through the Pennsylvania’s Office of State Fire Commissioner.
The money can be used for a variety of purposes, including facility upgrades, equipment, debt reduction, training, education and public outreach, recruitment and retention and revenue loss due to the COVID pandemic.
Gov. Tom Wolf announced Thursday the approval of grant awards totaling more than $29 million for thousands of recipients under the Fire Company and Emergency Medical Service Grant Program.
In Berks, 55 emergency providers will receive a combined $824,977 through the program.
“Fire and EMS companies are depended upon by Pennsylvanians each and every day to provide essential and often lifesaving services,” the governor said in a press release. “We know that these organizations continue to experience negative impacts related to the COVID pandemic and some are struggling financially. Grant programs like these are vital financial lifelines.”
The Fire Company and Emergency Medical Services Grant Program is an annual program available for volunteer and career fire companies, emergency medical services and rescue squads.
The following emergency service providers in Berks received grants:
• Amity Fire Company Fire: $15,000
• Bally Community Ambulance Association: $8,325
• Bernville Community Fire Company Fire: $15,000
• Bethel Community Ambulance: $8,325
• Blandon Fire Company: $14,475
• Boyertown Area Fire & Rescue Fire: $45,000
• Boyertown Lions Community Ambulance Service: $6,901
• Brecknock Township Fire Company:$15,000
• Central Fire Company of Laureldale: $13,484
• City of Reading Fire and Rescue Services: $15,000
• Community Fire Company of Virginville: $15,000
• Community Volunteer Fire Company of Lower Alsace Township: $15,000
• Cumru Township Volunteer Firefighters Association: $15,000
• Earl Township Volunteer
Fire Company: $15,000
• Eastern Berks Fire Department: $45,000
• Exeter Township Volunteer Fire Department: $15,000
• Fleetwood Volunteer Fire Company: $15,000
• Friendship Fire Company 2 of Mohnton: $14,610
• Friendship Fire Company 1 of Geigertown: $15,000
• Goodwill Fire Company of Hyde Park: $15,000
• Greenfields Fire Company: $15,000
• Hamburg Volunteer Forest Fire Crew: $15,000
• Hereford Fire Company: $15,000
• Kempton Fire Company: $15,000
• Kenhorst Volunteer Fire Company: $15,000
• Keystone Fire Company of Shillington: $15,000
• Keystone Fire Company of Rehrersburg: $15,000
• Kutztown Area Transport Service: $8,325
• Kutztown Volunteer Fire Department: $15,000
• Lyons Volunteer Fire Company: $14,372
• Marion Fire Company of Stouchburg: $15,000
• Mount Penn Fire Company: $15,000
• Mount Pleasant Fire Company of Berks County: $15,000
• Muhlenberg Area Ambulance: $8,325
• Oley Fire Company: $15,000
• Oley Fire Company EMS: $8,325
• Ruscombmanor Fire Company: $15,000
• Schuylkill Valley Emergency Medical Services: $16,655
• Shartlesville Community Fire Company: $15,000
• Shoemakersville Fire Company: $14,995
• Strausstown Volunteer
Fire Company: $15,000
• Temple Fire Company: $15,000
• Topton Community Ambulance Service: $7,492
• Topton Volunteer Fire Company: $12,918
• Township of Spring Firefighters: $15,000
• Twin Valley Fire Department: $15,000
• Union Fire Company of Hamburg: $15,000
• Union Fire Company of Leesport: $15,000
• Union Fire Company of Bethel Fire: $15,000
• Walnuttown Fire Company: $14,874
• West Reading Fire Company: $14,981
• Western Berks Ambulance Association: $8,325
• Western Berks Fire Department: $14,270
• Womelsdorf Volunteer Fire Company: $15,000
• Wyomissing Fire Department: $15,000