Mayor Potts – Local Fire & Rescue Departments To Receive $465,000 CDBG Grant for Turn-Out Gear

Mayor Mark Potts addressing Fire & Rescue regarding CDBG Grant for turn-out gear.
Photo by: Jeff Depew

Jefferson County Mayor Mark Potts recently met with the Jefferson County Fire and Rescue Association to announce the the County is the recipient of the Community Development Block Grant. The proceeds from this grant will be spread evenly among the local fire departments and rescue squad for turnout gear.

According to Mayor Potts, Jefferson County received the $465,000 grant with only a 16% percent match (rather than the usual 20%) because Jefferson County is a 3 Star Community. The local match will come from the individual departments. The cost of the gear is around $ 5000 per unit and will only cost the departments sixteen cents on the dollar. Attendees from the local fire and rescue departments stated that around one third of the various department members should receive new gear and noted that the cost of gear has risen significantly over the past two years.

The Community Development Block Grant is a Federal pass through grant and has a 4 to 6 week turn around time. The longevity of the grant is not certain due to recent federal budget cuts and Mayor Potts encourage the group to place their orders quickly so the current grant could be put to bed and another applied for before the grant becomes obsolete. He said “It’s always good when the County can provide extra money for our fire and rescue services, especially when it comes at no cost to the county and very low cost to the departments”.