April 29, 2024 – The Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal has announced the recipients of the 2024 Small Equipment Grant Program. A total of $4 million was awarded to 165 fire departments/districts and EMS providers across the state, including over $57,000 to local departments.
The program was established to provide grants of up to $26,000 each for the purchase of small firefighting and ambulance equipment. The purpose is to allow eligible applicants the opportunity to purchase small equipment that they may otherwise not be able to purchase. The OSFM received 417 applications, requesting around $9.5 million in funding for this grant period.
“We continue to see and hear about the need and understand the issues fire departments face when it comes to funding across the state. I am proud this year we were able to increase our grant funding to $4 million, a $2.5 million increase from last year, which has allowed us to award over 100 more departments money to purchase lifesaving tools they might not have been able to afford otherwise,” said Illinois State Fire Marshal James A. Rivera.
In Macon County, the following Fire Protection Districts received funds:
South Wheatland Fire Protection District $26,000
Maroa Countryside Fire Protection District $13,865
City of Decatur Fire Department $17,950
