logo
Local fire departments receiving grants for essential equipment

Local fire departments receiving grants for essential equipment

Yahoo12-03-2025

PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) — Several local fire and EMS providers in central Illinois will receive additional grant funding through the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal.
The Illinois State Fire Marshal announced on Wednesday that 178 fire departments across the state will receive $4 million as part of the 2024 small equipment grant program.
The program provides grants up to $26,000 for the purchase of small ambulance and firefighting equipment.
'Grant programs like our Small Equipment Grant Program are critical in providing fire departments and ambulance providers with the necessary equipment to ensure their staff can perform their duties safely and efficiently,' Illinois State Fire Marshal James A. Rivera said. 'These grants alleviate the burden of tough financial decisions, allowing departments to acquire essential tools without delay, ensuring they have what they need when they need it.'
Central Illinois fire stations part of $4 million grant
Some of the local departments that received funding in our viewing area included:
Farmington Fire Protection District $26,000
Cass-Putman Rescue Service NFP $23,815
Toulca-Rutland Fire Protection District $25,992
Bellflower Fire Protection District $25,250
Limestone Township Fire Protection District $23,178
Dunlap Community Fire Protection District $21,985
Logan-Trivoli Fire Protection District $14,954
Creve Coeur Fire Department $7,416.88
East Peoria Fire Department $13,692
Green Valley Fire Protection District $19,725
Metamora Fire Protection District $25,910
The Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal received 347 applications, which requested about $7.7 million during this round of grants. All applicants participated in the National Fire Incident Reporting System for at least two years before applying for grants.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Scholarship celebration honors Black college-bound seniors
Scholarship celebration honors Black college-bound seniors

Yahoo

time2 hours ago

  • Yahoo

Scholarship celebration honors Black college-bound seniors

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. (WMBD) — Hundreds gathered at a Bloomington church on Saturday to celebrate Black excellence in the classroom. The ceremony was held at 2 p.m. Saturday, June 7, at Mount Pisgah Baptist Church. It was sponsored by the Mentoring and Providing Scholarships Program, a local non-profit that mentors black students to learn etiquette, financial literacy and public speaking skills. More than $80,000 in scholarships were awarded to Black college-bound seniors for their academic achievements and community service. 'The annual Joint Scholarship Celebration plays an integral role in celebrating the successes of African American students,' Carla Campbell-Jackson, co-founder of MAPS, said. 'The MAPS Program is invaluable for students, and for our community, as we are developing 'real time' leaders and thought partners, who will continue to make a difference locally, and beyond.' Money for the scholarships was gathered with the help of African-American sororities, fraternities, and community-based organizations. MAPS looks to help students prepare for the professional world with important skills such as public speaking, said Shaun Harden, one of the students who received several scholarships. 'MAPS has been really great, especially for professional development. For instance, one of our previous sessions was about public speaking,' Harden said. 'We talked about how we were able to approach the stand and how we were able to address the audience properly, how to avoid filler words, a lot of different proper speaking things that you don't really get to learn other than through experience.' Local philanthropists also contributed to the scholarship fund, which helped raise more money for African American students looking to pursue higher education. Keynote speakers for the event included NAACP Image Award Winner and WMBD Summer Intern Bradley Ross Jackson and Teresa Haley, who shared some information and advice with the students. 'I learned that if you work hard, if you stay strong and determined, and continue to try to do your best and give back to the communities that have supported you, that you will eventually be rewarded in the end,' said Gabrielle Johnson, the president of the Bloomington-Normal NAACP Youth Council. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

American Legion Post 2 holds annual D-Day remembrance ceremony
American Legion Post 2 holds annual D-Day remembrance ceremony

Yahoo

time2 days ago

  • Yahoo

American Legion Post 2 holds annual D-Day remembrance ceremony

PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) — American Legion Post 2 held its annual D-Day remembrance ceremony Friday, marking the 81 years since Allied forces stormed the beaches of Normandy, a turning point in World War II. The ceremony took place at 10 a.m. along the Peoria Riverfront next to the RiverPlex, where Legion members gathered to honor the bravery and sacrifice of those who took part in the largest amphibious invasion in history. On June 6, 1944, approximately 160,000 Allied troops landed along a 50-mile stretch of heavily fortified French coastline to confront Nazi Germany. The operation was supported by over 5,000 ships and 13,000 aircraft. By the end of the day, the Allies had established a critical foothold in continental Europe but at a steep cost. More than 4,700 Allied forces died that, about 2,000 of them being Americans. Gary Hall, the service officer for Post 2, delivered remarks during the ceremony, underscoring the importance of remembering those who served. 'These events right here — like for D-Day — we want people to never forget what a sacrifice, what payment was made in order to keep our freedom. All gave some and some gave all,' Hall said. Notably, no members of the public attended the ceremony this year. Hall expressed disappointment in the turnout but said he understands that many people had work obligations during the morning hours. The event was held at the Military Services Memorial Plaza, continuing a long-standing tradition by Post 2 to honor those who served and to remind future generations of the cost of freedom. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Peoria Park District seek input on new playground design
Peoria Park District seek input on new playground design

Yahoo

time3 days ago

  • Yahoo

Peoria Park District seek input on new playground design

PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) — The Peoria Park District is asking the public to share their input on the future design of the Columbia Park playground. Park district staff and the Board of Trustees are asking the public to review and provide feedback on three proposed playground concepts, Park District Executive Director Emily Cahill said. 'We're asking the public to share their feedback and help us choose one of three concepts,' said Cahill. 'We are especially grateful to the City of Peoria for helping to fund this project through a Community Development Block Grant, and we want to ensure that those who consider Columbia Park their neighborhood park have a chance to shape its future.' The total cost of the project is expected to be $475,000, with construction expected to be completed by the end of the year. People interested in participating in the online survey to provide input can do so here. A public hearing will also be held at the park on June 10 from 5 to 6 p.m. Community members will be able to view the designs in person and share their thoughts directly with district staff. Feedback will be accepted through June 13. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store