The Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance (TDCI) announced Tuesday that a total of $1 million in grants will be made available to the over 500 volunteer fire departments across the state for the purchase of firefighting equipment. The TDCI and Tennessee State Fire Marshall’s Office (SFMO) partnered to make the grants available through the Volunteer Firefighter Equipment and Training Grant Program.
“We are grateful for the leadership of Governor Bill Lee and the General Assembly who increased the amount of funding to $1 million in order to help provide more support to Tennessee volunteer departments and their communities,” said Tennessee State Fire Marshal and TDCI Commissioner Carter Lawrence. “This program supports Governor Lee’s vision of strengthening Tennessee’s rural communities by providing more resources for our volunteer fire departments so that can help save lives and protect property.”
The legislation for the grants was originally created in 2019, and according to the statement, the program’s initial launch in 2020 provided $500,000 in grants to 41 volunteer fire departments. For the 2022 year, the funding was doubled and “strengthened the SFMO’s ongoing commitment to saving lives, protecting property, and reducing fire fatalities across Tennessee.”
“The majority of Tennessee’s firefighters are volunteers who willingly put their lives on the line for their communities for little or no compensation or recognition,” TDCI Assistant Commissioner of Fire Prevention Gary Farley said. “It is incumbent on our team to provide those brave men and women with a way to acquire reliable and effective firefighting equipment.”
The statement added that members of the Tennessee General Assembly were crucial in creating the program and increasing its funding from $500,000 to $1 million in 2022.
“Our firefighters are on the front lines and provide critical services to keep our communities safe,” Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Senator Mike Bell (R-Riceville) said. “These grants will help ensure they have the life-saving tools they need to do this heroic job safely and effectively. I look forward to continuing to see how these greatly needed funds will benefit our communities.”
To qualify for the grant, the statement notes, “fire departments must hold a valid recognition from the SFMO and have a staff comprised by less than 51% full-time career firefighters.” Applications will be accepted through 2:00 p.m. CT on Monday, February 28, 2022.
The TDCI offers an informative video on how to apply, and any other questions should be emailed to Director of Education and Outreach Greg Adams at [email protected].
Applications will then be scored by a seven-member committee composed of three representatives from the Tennessee Fire Chiefs Association, three representatives from the Tennessee Firemen’s Association, and TDCI’s Assistant Commissioner of Fire Prevention, who will oversee the award selection. “Per statute, the funds will be awarded equally among Tennessee’s Grand Divisions.”
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Morgan Nicole Veysey is a reporter for The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Follow her on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Heck, a million here; a million there and all at once our taxes get raised.