Emergency Response Grants Awarded

For Immediate Release

Contact:

Jill Carlson, Public Relations Strategist 

[email protected] or (309) 502-2805

More Than $600,000 Awarded to 160 Rural Emergency Response Departments

Compeer Financial funds new equipment and technology for volunteer departments in Illinois, Minnesota and Wisconsin

SUN PRAIRIE, Wis., Oct. 14, 2025 – Emergency response departments supporting rural communities across Illinois, Minnesota and Wisconsin received $605,998 to fund much needed equipment and technology upgrades. Through its Fund for Rural America, Compeer Financial awarded the 160 Emergency Response Equipment Grants to help volunteer fire, rescue and ambulance departments improve their operational efficiency, safety and response times.

Rural volunteer emergency response departments are struggling to service their communities due to fewer volunteer first responders, outdated personal protective equipment (PPE), increases in service requests and rising costs for essential equipment. Grants like these from Compeer are one way departments can continue to serve and protect their local communities. Due to budget constraints as volunteer departments, they are heavily reliant on public funding, grants, donations and local support to fund needed equipment, gear and training.

“For first responders to give their best, they need to be equipped with the proper tools. We recognize the challenges volunteer emergency response departments face with funding, and we hope these grants help give them the life-saving equipment necessary to effectively respond to critical situations,” said Karen Schieler, manager of Compeer Giving at Compeer Financial. 

Six themes emerged from applications for this year’s grants:

1. Communication Equipment: Many rural areas experience cell coverage gaps, making communication difficult especially during multi-department responses when time is critical. Departments requested upgraded radios, pagers and communication systems to ensure reliable communication with dispatch, law enforcement and other emergency departments.
2. Safety and Protective Gear: Many departments are using PPE, such as helmets, boots, gloves and turnout gear, that no longer meet safety standards. New gear will help ensure the safety and confidence of firefighters, improve operational efficiency, and help retain and attract volunteers by providing a safer working environment.
3. Specialized Rescue Equipment: Rural communities experience rescue scenarios, including grain bin rescues and wildland firefighting, that are different than those in urban areas. Departments requested modern tools like thermal imaging cameras, gas detectors, rescue struts and extrication tools to improve speed, safety and effectiveness in these unique and other emergency situations.
4. Medical Equipment: Many rural areas experience long ambulance response times. Upgrades to medical equipment like LUCAS devices, vital signs monitors and CO₂ detectors were requested to improve patient care and outcomes. 
5. Ventilation and Lighting: Firefighters encounter numerous challenges during calls in rural communities. Departments requested new battery-powered ventilation fans and LED lighting to improve efficiency and safety by reducing smoke damage and improving visibility during operations.
6. Training Equipment: Much like their PPE, training equipment has become outdated. Departments plan to purchase new training equipment, such as mannequins and simulators, to help them better prepare for various emergency scenarios and improve the skills of both first responders and community members.

Since beginning the Emergency Response Equipment Grants in 2018, the Fund for Rural America has provided nearly $5 million in grants to equip volunteer first responders with the equipment and tools needed to aid rural residents across Compeer’s 144-county territory. The grant will change slightly in 2026 to the Emergency First Responders Grant, accounting for both the needs of the department to service the community and the safety needs of the volunteer first responders. The grant amount will also increase from the current maximum of $4,000 to a maximum of $7,500. Applications will open April 15, 2026, and close May 31, 2026. Departments that have not received a grant the prior two years will be eligible to apply for two new grant areas: 

1. Essential Response Equipment: This encompasses equipment needed to effectively respond to incidents. Examples of equipment include hand and extraction tools, fire suppression tools, fire response and medical equipment.
2. Responder Life-Safety Need: This includes equipment and resources needed to protect and support first responders. Examples include communication equipment and PPE.

There were 53 departments from both Illinois and Minnesota and 54 departments from Wisconsin that received an Emergency Response Equipment Grant of up to $4,000 this year. The full listing is below.

Illinois:

• Appleton Fire Station: Inflatable rescue boat, SCBA quick-fill kit, hand pump, tow strap assembly, rescue strap, rescue throw bag.
• Atkinson Fire Protection District: Thermal imaging camera.
• Bellflower Fire Protection District: Mobile radio.
• Big Rock Volunteer Fire Department: Gas monitors, CO₂ detectors.
• Blackhawk Fire Protection District: Fire boots, coats, bunker pants, helmets.
• Cedarville Fire Protection District: Air cylinders, fill station, control panel and installation.
• Colchester Fire Protection District: Drone.
• Crete Township Fire Protection District: Mobile radio.
• Creve Coeur Fire Department: Fire boots.
• East Dubuque Volunteer Fire Department: Rope rescue equipment.
• Ellsworth Fire Protection District: Ice rescue suits, throw bag rescue ropes, ice awls.
• Elmwood Fire Department Inc: Intake valve, nozzles.
• Fairbury Fire Department: Hose.
• Farmington Community Fire Protection District: Gas meter, structural fire gloves.
• German Valley Fire Protection District: UTV slide-in unit for brush and field fires.
• Havana Rural Fire Protection District: Field and brush fire gear.
• Hillsdale Fire Protection District: Pagers.
• Hooppole Fire Department: Deluge gun.
• Hull Kinderhook Fire Protection District: Nozzles.
• Industry Fire Protection District: Rescue gear for EMTs, radios.
• Kilbourne Fire Protection District: SCBA air bottles.
• Kirkland Community Fire Protection District: Nozzles.
• Limestone Township Fire Protection District: Vehicle stabilization equipment.
• Lisbon-Seward Fire Protection District: Confined space rescue kit.
• Little Mackinaw Fire Protection District: EMT vest.
• Manlius Fire Protection District: Vehicle stabilization equipment.
• Marengo Rescue Squad: Mini cutter.
• Mendon Fire Protection District: Rescue vehicle jacks.
• Milledgeville Fire Protection District: Automated external defibrillator, first response blankets, fire vests.
• Monroe Township Fire Protection District: Portable suction unit.
• Mount Morris Fire Protection District: Portable radios.
• Naplate Fire Department: Cut-off saw kit, blade, chainsaw kit, saw kit.
• Nauvoo Fire Protection District: Vehicle stabilization equipment.
• Newark Fire Protection District: Thermal imaging camera.
• North Park Fire Protection District: Nozzles and tips.
• Oglesby Volunteer Ambulance Service: Portable radios.
• Oregon Fire Protection District: Confined space rescue equipment.
• Randolph Township Fire Protection District: RIT pack, SCBA bottle.
• Roanoke Fire Protection District – Roanoke Ambulance: Pagers.
• RSP&E Fire Protection District: Air pack batteries and charging stations.
• Saint Anne Fire Protection District: Drone.
• Scales Mound Fire Protection District: Rescue tripod.
• Schuyler County Ambulance: Lifting devices.
• Secor Fire Protection District: Grain bin rescue package.
• Seneca Fire Protection & Ambulance District: Mobile radio.
• Somonauk Fire Department: SONAR unit.
• Spring Bay Fire Protection District: Thermal imaging cameras.
• Sublette Fire Protection District: Firefighter coats, pants, hoods.
• Sugar Grove Fire Protection District: Self-contained breathing apparatus.
• Thomson Fire Protection District: Boots.
• Tri-County Ambulance Service: Pagers, portable radios.
• West Brooklyn Fire Protection District: Pagers.
• West Point Fire Protection District: Two-tone alert.

Minnesota:

• Adrian Ambulance Service: EMS/EMT trauma bags, pediatric trauma jump bags and long boards, digital stethoscope.
• Adrian Fire Department: Gloves, flashlight.
• Belle Plaine Ambulance Service: Pagers.
• Blooming Prairie Fire Department: Turnout gear.
• Brownsdale Fire Department: Radios.
• Brownton Fire Department: Automated CPR device.
• Canton Fire Department: Portable radios.
• Carlton Fire Department & Ambulance: Cot mattresses and straps, child restraint systems.
• Cloquet Area Fire District: Structural firefighter helmets.
• Cokato Fire Department: Firefighter boots.
• Courtland Rural Fire Association: Turnout boots and gear.
• Dexter Fire Department: Bunker boots.
• Eagle Lake Volunteer Fire Department: Wildland firefighting gear.
• Eden Valley Fire Department: Wildfire gear, SCBAs.
• Elko New Market Fire Department: Portable radios and charger.
• Emmons Volunteer Fire Department: Portable radio.
• Federal Dam Fire Department: Firehose adapter.
• Fifty Lakes Fire Department: Coats, pants, boots.
• Gaylord Ambulance Service: Pagers.
• Gibbon Fire Rescue Department: Extraction tools.
• Grand Lake Township Fire Department: Hook, poles, axes, Halligan bars, sledgehammers.
• Grant Portage Ambulance Service: Emergency lifting cushion, backboard, portable suction unit, patient lifting device.
• Hills Fire Department: Mobile radio.
• Jeffers Fire Department: Thermal imaging camera kit.
• Kimball Fire Department: Firefighting boots.
• La Crescent Fire Department: Nozzles.
• La Salle Volunteer Fire Department: Respirators, hoods.
• Le Sueur Ambulance Service: Pagers.
• Lester Prairie Volunteer Fire Department: Rescue air lift bags.
• Lyle Area First Responders: Chest compressions device.
• Madelia Health: Portable radios.
• Mantorville Fire Department: Turnout gear.
• Mazeppa Fire Department: Portable pulse oximeter and probes, O₂ bags, portable suction unit, stethoscopes, first-in bag.
• Myrtle Fire Department: Extrication cutter tool.
• Nodine Fire Department: Suction unit, firehose, tool mounts, EMS bags.
• Odin Fire Department: Turnout gear, boots, helmets.
• Oronoco Fire Department: Nozzles.
• Round Lake Fire Department: Reflective winter PPE.
• Sandstone Fire Department: Fire gloves, vehicle extrication gloves.
• Spring Grove Fire Department: Chainsaw, fire rescue saw.
• Spring Valley Ambulance Service: Chest compression device.
• Springfield Ambulance Service: Pacing monitors.
• Stewart Fire Department: Lift assist equipment, suction device, protective suits, air lifting bag, 3-lead ECG cable.
• Trimont Fire Department: Grain bin rescue equipment.
• Twin Lakes Fire Department: Bunker pants, coats, boots, hoods.
• Vernon Center Fire Department: Vital signs monitor.
• Waldorf Fire & Rescue: Extraction tools.
• Walters Fire Department: Firefighter turnout gear.
• Watertown Fire Department: Grain bin rescue equipment.
• Wilson Township Fire Department: High visibility coats, firefighting helmets, SCBA facepiece, pressurized water cans, firefighting boots.
• Windom Ambulance Service: Coop stretchers, traction splits.
• Windom Volunteer Fire Department: Nozzles. 
• Zumbrota Volunteer Fire Department: Gas monitor, blowers, pagers.

Wisconsin:

• Albany Fire Department: Structure fire helmets.
• Allenton Volunteer Fire Department Inc: Stabilization struts.
• Almena Fire District: Confined space rescue equipment, vehicle stabilization blocking.
• Alto Volunteer Fire Department: Gas detector.
• Apple River Fire Department: Air bags, attachment set and control kit with regulator, supply hose.
• Arcadia Ambulance Service: Radio.
• Ashippun Volunteer Fire Department: Automatic defibrillator. 
• Bear Lake-Haugen Fire Department: Portable radios.
• Beechwood Volunteer Fire Department: Hose, nozzles.
• Berlin Emergency Medical Service: Autopulse device.
• Blair Preston Volunteer Fire Department: Thermal imaging camera kit.
• Blanchardville EMS: Infant and child blood pressure cuffs, pediatric backboard, infant and child stretcher restraint, infant stethoscope.
• Blue River Fire Department: Fire attack hose.
• Boyceville Community Ambulance District: Gas monitors.
• Cascade Fire Department: Pagers.
• Cashton Area Fire Protection District: Thermal imaging cameras.
• Clear Lake Ambulance Service: First responder bags.
• County Line Fire & Rescue Department: Lighted safety vests, traffic paddle signs, emergency scene signs.
• Dodge Fire Department & First Responders: Carbon monoxide monitors, gas meter.
• Elmwood Area Fire Department: Chainsaws, cutoff saw.
• Evansville Community Fire District: Air bag system.
• Friesland Volunteer Fire Department: Thermal imaging system.
• Gordon Volunteer Fire Department: Portable ground monitor.
• Gordon-Wascott EMS: Carbon monoxide detectors.
• Grand View Volunteer Fire Department: SCBA cylinders.
• Gundersen Tri County Ambulance: Mobile radio.
• Harris Volunteer Fire Department: Turnout gear.
• Hazel Green Fire Department: SCBA air masks, helmets.
• Helenville Fire & Rescue: Hose fittings suction elbow, helmet flashlights, fan.
• Highland Volunteer Fire Department: Thermal imaging camera.
• Lebanon Fire Department: Portable folding tanks.
• Lodi Area Fire Department: Thermal imaging cameras.
• Lund Fire Department: Gas detector, landing zone kit.
• Marshall Volunteer Fire Department: Hose, adapters, valve, siphon, hydrant wrench and adapter, spanner wrenches.
• Melrose Volunteer Fire Department: Turnout gear.
• Mineral Point Fire Department: Gas detector.
• Montello Joint Fire District: Wildland fire rescue coats, pants.
• Nelson Fire Department: Radios.
• Ontario Fire & Rescue: Thermal imaging cameras.
• Oostburg Fire Department: Fan.
• Platteville Volunteer Fire Department: Technical rescue equipment.
• Reedsburg Volunteer Fire Department: Fan.
• Richland Center Fire Department: Thermal imaging camera and charger.
• Ripon Area Fire District: Bunker coats, pants, boots.
• Spooner Fire District: Hose.
• Stoddard Bergen Volunteer Fire Department: Firehose.
• Tilden Volunteer Fire Department: Structure fire turnout gear.
• Town of Burlington Fire Department: Fan.
• Town of Sheboygan Falls Fire Department: Turnout gear.
• Town of Vinland: Turnout gear.
• United Fire & Rescue Baldwin Station: Radios.
• Verona Fire Department: Jacks, plates, pickets, snatch block, soft slings, air controller, air hoses, air wye, air regulator.
• Wauzeka Fire & Rescue: Chest compression system.
• Wheatland Fire & Rescue: Nozzles, extrication gloves, safety glasses.
   

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 net earnings to support the Fund’s focus areas of agriculture education, youth engagement, rural development and community enrichment, agricultural advocacy and development, and cooperative initiatives. The Fund is managed by a Board of Trustees, made up of team members and members of the Compeer Financial Board of Directors. Learn more about opportunities available through the Fund.

About Compeer Financial

Compeer Financial is a member-owned Farm Credit cooperative serving and supporting agriculture and rural communities. The $35.5 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’s patronage program.

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