By RODNEY L. SHERMAN
Clarion News editor
Ambulance and volunteer fire departments serving the Clarion County could receive special funding aimed at making up for lost revenues and rising expenses due to the COVID-19 emergency.
Clarion County EMS and fire departments could receive up to a total of $327,651.
Forest County services could receive $68,484.
Emlenton VFD could receive $23,151 while Emlenton Area Ambulance Service could receive $15,048. Both agencies often respond to municipalities in Clarion County.
In Jefferson County, Corsica Volunteer Fire Department was not on the list of potential grant recipients. Summerville Volunteer Fire Department could receive $22,603.
Local fire departments and ambulance services must act quickly to file for and spend the funding.
Program funds must be utilized for eligible expenses initiated on or after March 6, 2020, and completed on or before Dec. 30, 2020, to be considered as eligible for the grant program.
As stated in Act 26, the money must be used for operational and equipment expenses.
Eligible expenses include operational expenses such as but not limited to: utilities, insurance, apparatus repairs/fuel, and personal protective equipment and lost revenues due to pandemic restrictions.
Also eligible are expenses for cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting of equipment and property or other expenses incurred to prevent the spread of communicable illnesses.
The awards available in Clarion County include:
– Callensburg-Licking Township Volunteer Fire Company $22,877.
– Clarion Fire and Hose Company No. 1 $22,877.
– East Brady Area Ambulance Service $10,994.
– East Brady Volunteer Fire Department $23,151.
– Farmington Township Volunteer Fire Company $22,603.
– Hawthorn Area Volunteer Fire Company $22,603.
– Knox Volunteer Fire Company $23,425.
– Limestone Township Volunteer Fire Company $22,603.
– New Bethlehem Fire Company No. 1 $22,877.
– Rimersburg Hose Company $22,603.
– Sligo Volunteer Fire Department Inc. $22,740.
– Shippenville/Elk Township Volunteer Fire Dept. $11,094.
– Shippenville/Elk Township Ambulance Service $5,856.
– Southern Clarion County Volunteer Ambulance Service $15,048.
– St. Petersburg Volunteer Fire Company $22,603.
– Strattanville Volunteer Fire Dept. $11,094.
– Washington Township Volunteer Fire Company $22,603.
The Knox Ambulance Service and the Perry Township Volunteer Fire Department were not included on the list of potential grant recipients provided by the governor’s office.