The Office of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM) is now accepting applications for the Small Equipment Grant Program. OSFM will award $4 million to eligible fire departments and ambulance services to improve or replace small equipment used for emergencies. It’s recommenced that departments should file an application sooner than later as the deadline is October 1st, 2024.
Informational meetings about the State Fire Marshal Small Equipment grants will be hosted next week for interested applicants. This is a good opportunity to learn more about the application process and what to expect after a submission. More information can be found here.
Information Meetings
New Illinois Law will Help EMTs and Firefighters
Illinois state leaders are taking a proactive approach to address the shortage of EMTs and firefighters through legislation with SB 0761. This bill which passed unanimously, supports additional EMT training, recruitment, and a Retention Task Force. The retention task force will be responsible for discussing the impact of worker shortages and the impact it has on the workforce and healthcare systems. Read more here.