Jun. 01, 2020
HARRISBURG – Fire and EMS providers across the state will benefit from a new $50 million grant program recently signed into law to help them meet the additional challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, announced Rep. Rich Irvin (R-Huntingdon/Centre/Mifflin), a supporter of the bill creating the program.
“Our fire and emergency medical service providers have been on the front lines of this pandemic, transporting patients and helping manage the crisis with no additional funding to help these already financially challenged companies,” said Irvin. “On top of that, due to the statewide stay-at-home orders, they have also lost out on vital fundraising opportunities used to keep the companies afloat.”
Act 26 of 2020 creates the COVID-19 Crisis Fire and Emergency Medical Services Grant Program with funding from the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
Under the new law, the funds will be distributed as follows: $44 million for grants to eligible fire companies and $6 million for grants to eligible EMS companies.
The grants will be administered by the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) in a manner similar to how funds were provided under the Fire Company Grant Program and Emergency Medical Services Grant Program, respectively. Eligible companies that did not apply for or receive a fire and EMS grant in fiscal year 2019-20 will be required to submit an application for this new funding.
Representative Rich Irvin
81st Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Tricia Lehman
717.772.9840
tlehman@pahousegop.com
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