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:
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
