Emergency Services Provider Fund Grants Awarded

First-responder organizations across Nova Scotia will be able to purchase necessary safety equipment with a $1.4 million investment from the province.

“First responders have an essential role in the safety of our communities, and we thank them for their dedication and commitment,” said Premier Stephen McNeil. “Many of these organizations are supported by volunteers, who put countless hours into training and responding to emergencies. This funding will help ensure they have the tools and equipment to keep them safe.”

The announcement was made at the Windsor Fire Department, which was awarded almost $17,000 to purchase personal protective equipment, self-contained breathing apparatus and fire hoses.

The Emergency Services Provider Fund offers financial assistance to fire departments and ground search and rescue organizations, including hazardous materials teams (HAZMAT), to upgrade equipment that is used directly in response to a fire or emergency.

“This program provides necessary funding to help buy and replace safety equipment,” said Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Chuck Porter. “In providing this funding to our first responder organizations, we are helping to protect the people who put themselves in harm’s way to protect us.”

In May 2019, the program criteria changed to allow organizations to choose from a broader list of eligible equipment such as GPS and mapping/tracking software and purchase equipment from up to three of the six categories, instead of just one.

Quotes:

“Windsor Fire is grateful to the government of Nova Scotia for the opportunity to have applied for and ultimately receive a grant under the Emergency Service Provider Fund. Grants such as these allow us as a department, and the Fire Service generally, to be able to meet the safety needs of our firefighters while providing the protection of our citizens that they expect and deserve.”

– Jamie Juteau, chief, Windsor Fire Department

Quick Facts:

• 80 organizations are receiving funding under the program for 2019-20
• organizations are eligible for funding every three years and can apply for up to 75 per cent of the total equipment costs to a maximum of $20,000
• the six categories for purchasing are: personal protective equipment; communications; rescue equipment; firefighting equipment; HAZMAT equipment; and miscellaneous equipment

Additional Resources:

Municipal Affairs and Housing Twitter Account: https://twitter.com/dma_ns

Emergency Services Provider Fund Criteria: https://beta.novascotia.ca/apply-funding-buy-equipment-thats-used-directly-response-fire-or-emergency-emergency-services-provider-fund

Full list of 2019-20 Emergency Service Provider Fund grant recipients: https://beta.novascotia.ca/documents/emergency-services-provider-fund-grant-recipients-2019