Emergency Response Grants Awarded
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Nora Nolden, Senior Communications Consultant
[email protected] or (651) 245-6804
Rural Emergency Response Departments Receive $731K
from Compeer Financial Grant Program
Awards Benefit Departments in Illinois, Minnesota and Wisconsin
Sun Prairie, Wis., (October 11, 2024) – Emergency response departments serving rural communities in Illinois, Minnesota and Wisconsin were awarded $731,000 for equipment needs and program enhancements through Compeer Financial’s Fund for Rural America. A total of 173 grants were extended by the Farm Credit cooperative’s giving program, including 13 collaboration grants for equipment shared across multiple departments.
The Emergency Response Equipment Grant program is designed to financially support equipment essential for emergency response departments serving rural communities. It was enhanced three years ago when the Fund for Rural America added the Emergency Response Equipment Collaboration Grant, underscoring the importance of teamwork among volunteer fire, rescue and ambulance departments in rural areas.
“We recognize rural departments frequently share resources and essential life-saving equipment,” said Karen Schieler, manager corporate giving at Compeer Financial. “The spirit of collaboration is robust among emergency departments within Compeer’s territory, and we are committed to positively impacting more lives. First responders tirelessly dedicate themselves when people are in distress, and these tools and resources will be indispensable in critical situations.”
The Fund for Rural America has awarded more than $4 million in grants supporting rural first responders since 2018. Compeer intends to offer these grants again in August 2025.
The 2024 Emergency Response Equipment Collaboration Grants offer up to $10,000 and will directly impact 52 collaborating departments. The departments receiving the Emergency Response Collaboration Grants include:
Illinois:
Cass-Putman Rescue Services NFP, Smithfield Fire Protection District: battery-operated high-pressure spreader tools
Farmington Fire Protection District, Elba Salem, Fairview Protection District: chest compression system and external power supply
Havana Rural Fire Protection District, Kilbourne Fire Protection District, Forman Fire Protection District: harnesses, helmets, gas monitor, lanyards, drill kit, ratchet straps and gloves
Morris Fire Protection and Ambulance District, Seneca Fire District, Coal City Fire District: struts, hinge bases, strut heads, strut extends and strut extensions
Shannon Ambulance, Shannon Fire: battery operated hydraulic extrication tool and struts
Minnesota:
Claremont Fire Department, Dodge Center Ambulance: battery operated combination tool
Edgerton Volunteer Fire Department, Edgerton Volunteer Ambulance Association: air tank filling station compressor
Faribault County Firefighters Association, Blue Earth Fire Department, Wells Fire Department, Winnebago Fire Department, Bricelyn Fire Department, Delavan Fire Department, Easton Fire Department, Elmore Fire Department, Frost Fire Department, Kiester Fire Department, Minnesota Lake Fire Department, Walters Fire Department: rescue ropes and storage bags, locking carabiners, stainless steel figure eight, prusiks, pulleys, anchor straps, rescue and body harnesses, litter and harness, tubular webbing and technical rope rescue training
Glenville Fire Department, Albert Lea Fire Department, Freeborn Fire Department, Alden Fire Department, Conger Fire Department, Hartland Fire Department, Geneva Fire Department, Clarks Grove Fire Department, Hollandale Fire Department, Hayward Fire Department, Myrtle Fire Department, London Fire Department, Emmons Fire Department, Manchester Fire Department and the Twin Lakes Fire Department: pressure booster pump
St. Clair Fire and Rescue, Pemberton Fire and Rescue: set of high-pressure lifting bags with inflation hoses, regulator and controller
Wisconsin:
Dickeyville Rescue Squad Inc., Jamestown First Responders: chest compression system
Dover/Gilmanton EMR, Mondovi Ambulance Service: AEDs for ambulances and first responders
Lamartine Volunteer Fire Department, Eldorado Fire Department: trailer, tent, chairs, tables, coolers, trauma bag, fans and ancillary items for firefighter rehab
Additionally, 160 individual departments received Emergency Response Equipment Grants of up to $4,000 each. Since the program’s establishment in 2018, the Fund has distributed 1,130 Emergency Response Equipment Grants totaling more than $3.6 million.
The departments receiving Emergency Response Equipment Grants include:
Illinois:
Allen Township Fire Protection District: handheld radios
Allin Township Fire Protection District: dual purpose skid unit
Apple River Fire Protection District: base radio with power supply, antenna and related wiring, hardware and pagers
Ashton Fire and Rescue: hooks, axes, sledgehammer, LED lanterns, mallet and portable scene light
Bath Fire Protection District: hose, gas monitor and thermal imager
Bishop Hill Community Fire Protection District: pagers
Blandinsville/Hire Fire Protection District: drone kit
Bourbonnais Fire Protection District: laryngoscopes, blades and carrying cases
Brimfield Community Fire District: replacing AEDs
Burlington Community Fire Protection District: vent fan
Carbon Cliff-Barstow Fire District: flashlight and truck flashlights
Chadwick Fire Protection District: sets of turnout gear
Chandlerville Fire Department: fire hose
Cincinnati Fire Protection District: fire nozzle with tips
Coal City Fire Protection District: combination tool kit and scene lights
Colona Community Fire Department: fire helmets
Congerville Rural Fire Protection District: fire/EMS skid unit
Dakota Fire Protection District: air pack masks, gas monitors, gas test cylinders, search lights and batteries
Dallas City Rural Fire Protection District: gas detectors, calibration gas regulator and calibration gas bottle
Davis Fire Protection District: ice rated personal flotation devices and rope tethers, ice rescue rope throw bags, ice rescue boat/sled and ice picks
Delavan Ambulance Service: pagers and portable stair chair
Elba-Salem Fire Protection District: radios
Eureka-Goodfield Fire Protection District: inflatable rescue boat
Forreston Fire Protection District: fire/EMS skid unit
Freeport Rural Fire Protection District: pagers, portable radios and antennas, speakers and microphones
Green Valley Fire Protection District: hose
Lanark Fire Protection District: portable radios and pagers
Leonore Volunteer Fire Department: fire hose
Leroy Community Fire Protection District: multi-gas detector and rescue saw with cutting blade
Little York Fire Protection District: gas monitor with charger and gas calibration kit and fully stocked jump bags
Maquon Fire Protection District: pagers with chargers and batteries
Marengo Fire Protection District: lift bag set, lifting bag control kit and air relief valve
Marseilles Area Ambulance: replacing EMS extrication gear
Monmouth Fire Department: confined space ventilation fan and ductwork and gas monitors
Morris Fire Protection and Ambulance District: grain bin rescue auger, harnesses and locks
Mt. Carroll Ambulance: pagers
Mt. Hope-Funks Grove Fire Protection District: skid unit
Oak Run First Responders, Williamsfield Fire Protection District: stokes basket, extremity splint set, outboard motor and metal saw
Ohio Volunteer Fire District: new hose
Orion Community Fire Protection District: fire hooks, Halligan and flashlights
Pearl City Fire Department: pagers
Rio Fire Protection District: portable monitor, deluge tip, fog nozzle tip, stream shaper, and a vehicle mounting bracket
Rivoli Fire Protection District: radios and antennas
Rock City Fire Protection District: handheld flashlights, handheld collapsible stop/slow traffic control paddles, traffic safety vests
San Jose Fire Protection District: firefighting and rescue gloves
Sandwich Community Fire Protection District: video laryngoscope
Saunemin Fire Protection District: mobile and portable handheld radios
Utica Fire Protection District: air bottles and a battery-operated angle grinder
Walnut Fire Protection District: two-way radios
Washington Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue Squad Inc.: ventilators
West Suburban Fire Protection District: thermal image camera package
Williamsfield Fire Protection District: portable generator and battery powered tools
Minnesota:
Adams Volunteer Fire Department: fire hoses
Amboy Fire Department: replacing two ladders and purchasing a slide out compartment
Brownsville Fire and Rescue Department: LED helmet lights and personal handheld lights
Buffalo Lake Ambulance: purchasing replacement LUCAS batteries and new LUCAS battery charger
Cannon Falls Fire Department: multi-gas detectors
Chain of Lakes Fire and Rescue District: reconditioning pagers
Chatfield Fire Department: one set of PPE
City of Beaver Creek: coats and pants
City of Rushford Volunteer Fire Department: replacing outdated base radio unit
Cleveland Fire Department: replacing boots
Cokato Volunteer Ambulance Service: new LUCAS batteries, pagers and patient transporters
Cologne Fire and Rescue Department: purchasing a portable radio and accessories
Crosby Fire Department: rope rescue system, harnesses, carabiners, high pressure air lifting kit
Dover Fire Department: chainsaw kit, batteries and charger, LED light stands, replacement chain saws and hydrant gate valves
Duxbury Volunteer Fire Department Inc.: AEDs with cases
Easton Volunteer Fire Department: voice pagers
Ellsburg Volunteer Fire Department Inc: thermal cameras and lanyards
Eyota Volunteer Fire Department: first aid bags, respectful entry kit, mini crash kits, tool kit bags, dura crib auto, quick crib step chocks, drip torch brackets, battery cable cutters and a cribbing bag
Faribault Fire Department: tripod lights and high output batteries
Floodwood Area Emergency Medical Services District: child restraint transport units
Glenville Fire Department: replacing PPE/turnout gear
Good Thunder Fire Department: purchasing voice amplifiers
Grand Meadow Fireman’s Rural Association: new fire boots
Harris Fire Department: EMS bags for oxygen tanks and medical supplies and equipment, an AED, hand tools and fire equipment
Hayfield Community Ambulance Service: replacing radios, pagers, batteries and chargers
Heron Lake Fire Department: purchasing nozzle sets and extensions
Hinckley Fire Department: basic lifeline rope sets
Iona Volunteer Fire and Rescue: turnout coat and pant, boat, helmet, hood, mask and tank
Janesville Fire Department Relief Association: set of firefighting turnout gear
Kasota Fire Department: new AEDs
Keewatin Fire Department: ropes, carabiners, GLOcords, water rescue ropes, rope bag and throw bags
Lafayette Ambulance: new pagers
Lake City Ambulance: video intubation devices and disposable blades
Lake Crystal Fire Department: grain rescue tube
Lakes Area Rescue: handheld GPS and satellite communicators
Le Center Fire Department: pagers, hard suction hose, low level strainer with jet siphon and screen
Magnolia Fire and Rescue: new pagers
Medford Fire Department: new pagers
Melrose Fire Department: multi-gas meter
Moose Lake Area Fire Protection District: thermal imager
Nerstrand Fire and Rescue: turnout gear
New Germany Fire Department: radio and pager upgrades
Northeast Itasca Rescue: oxygen bag, trauma bags, advance airways, valve masks and oxygen regulators
Plainview Fire and Rescue: rescue ropes and harnesses
Preston Emergency Services: spine boards and immobilization straps for pediatric patients
Royalton Fire and Rescue: reciprocating saw kits, tower light/charger bare tools, battery packs, chargers, adjustable hydrant and spanner wrench and a cutoff tool
Ruthton Volunteer Fire Department: gloves, grassland gear and a drop tank
Sauk Centre Ambulance: radio batteries and chargers and an adult airway management trainer
Slayton Fire Department: nozzle sets, waterway shut off valve and extensions
St. Bonifacius Fire Department: ventilation fan with batteries and chargers
St. Charles Fire Department: cutter, spreader, ram, batteries and rapid charger
Trimont Ambulance: new radios
Wanamingo Fire Department: replacing structural helmets and hoods
Wells Fire Department: one set of PPE
West Concord Fire Department and Ambulance Services: grain bin rescue and high angle rescue equipment
Wilmont Fire and Rescue: grain tube panels, panel storage bag, slide hammer, rescue auger and tote
Wisconsin:
Alma Fire Department: handheld radios
Amery Fire Department: pagers
Arlington Fire Department: gas monitor and calibration kit
Arthur-Cadott-Goetz-Sigel Fire Department: hoses, nozzles and tips
Baldwin Area EMS: pagers and spare batteries
Birchwood Four Corners Emergency Services District EMS: nitrous oxide delivery system
Browntown Fire Department: ice water rescue suits, gloves and ice picks
Cassville Fire and Rescue Inc: lifting air bags with controller, hoses and regulators
Cedar Grove Fire Department: firefighter helmets
Chilton Fire Department: rope-rescue and descending equipment
City of Burlington Fire Department: laryngoscope and carrying case
Coloma Firemen Inc.: fire suppression tools
Dallas Sioux Creek Joint Fire Department: thermal image cameras
Dane County District One EMS: AED batteries, sodium chloride, dextrose, IV start kit, IV administration sets, intraosseous infusion system and needle sets
Dane Fire Department: chainsaws and concrete saws, replacement battery sets, blowers
Darlington Community Fire Department: ventilation fans
Eastman First Responders: spine board set and a suction unit with canister
Elk Mound Fire District: battery operated positive pressure ventilation fan
Endeavor/Moundville Fire Department: handheld flashlights/lanterns
Haven Volunteer Fire Department: gas meter
Hillsboro Area Ambulance Service: pagers
Hollandale First Responders: pagers
Horicon Fire Bell Club Inc.: lights, stowage basket and a water tank/pump/hose
Knowles Volunteer Fire Department: thermal imaging cameras
Lafayette County EMS: oxygen cascade system
Lake Mills Fire Department: portable radios
Lancaster EMS Inc:. pagers with chargers and batteries
Linden First Responders: reusable thigh blood pressure cuff, reusable adult, child and infant blood pressure cuffs, pediatric mattress, stethoscope, patient transporter, backboard/scoop stretcher, pediatric and adult traction splints, oxygen pressure regulator
Monroe Rural Fire District: LED rechargeable flashlights, lanterns and chargers
MRPCS Ambulance Service: responder bags and oxygen tanks
Neshkoro Area Fire Protection District: portable radios
Pigeon Falls First Responders: vital signs monitor and handheld radios
Plum City Fire Department: portable radios
Poynette Dekorra Fire Protection District: pagers
Rock Creek Township Fire Department: AED
Shelby Fire Department: scoop stretcher, stretcher, firefighter irons and a chainsaw bar
Siren Fire Department: thermal imaging camera
St. Lawrence Fire Company: turnout gear
Town of Fond du Lac Volunteer Fire Department: turnout gear, boots, gloves and hoods
Town of Oshkosh EMS: extrication turnout gear
Town of Sand Creek Fire Department: fire hose and LED handheld flashlights
Town of Superior Fire Department: fire hose
Town of Washinton Volunteer Fire Department: air tanks and turnout gear
Township Fire Department: portable radios
Utica Volunteer Fire Department: portable water tank and hoses
Wascott Fire Department: K-12 battery powered saw
Waubeka Fire Department, Inc: cut off saw kit and ventilation saw blades
Westby First Responders: handheld radios
Western Buffalo County Ambulance Service: mobile and portable radios
Wilton Ambulance Service: pagers and portable radios
Winter Volunteer Fire Department: chainsaw, pole saw, light towers, hammer drill, cutoff grinder, circle saw, hex driver, Sawzall kit, battery charger and batteries
Wiota Fire Department: pagers
About the Fund for Rural America
The Compeer Financial Fund for Rural America is the corporate giving program of Compeer Financial, structured to support Compeer Financial’s mission to enrich agriculture and rural America. Compeer Financial’s Board of Directors has dedicated one percent of annual adjusted net earnings to support the Fund’s focus areas of agricultural advocacy and development, agriculture education, cooperative initiatives, rural development and community enrichment; and youth engagement. The Fund is managed by a Board of Trustees, made up of team members from Illinois, Minnesota and Wisconsin and members of the Compeer Financial Board of Directors. More information about opportunities available through the Fund can be found at Compeer.com/giving-back.
About Compeer Financial
Compeer Financial is a member-owned Farm Credit cooperative serving and supporting agriculture and rural communities. The $33 billion organization provides loans, leases, risk management and other financial services throughout 144 counties in Illinois, Minnesota and Wisconsin. Based in the Upper Midwest, Compeer Financial exists to champion the hopes and dreams of rural America, while providing personalized service and expertise to clients and the agriculture industry.
Compeer Financial is the third largest cooperative of the Farm Credit System, a nationwide network of lending institutions supporting agriculture and rural communities with reliable, consistent credit and financial services. Learn more about Compeer Financial.