Grant money rolls in

Monday, October 1, 2007

Portageville is awarded $175,000 in grant funding

PORTAGEVILLE - During September nearly $175,000 in grant funding was awarded the city of Portageville.

The community was awarded $75,798 worth of equipment and gear for the fire department through the Assistance to Firefighters Grant. Awarded through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, this grant is open to every fire department and emergency service in every state and territory in the United States and is very competitive, according to Karen Hitchcock, director of Economic Development for Portageville.

Additionally, a USDA grant of $71,000 was awarded in September to the fire department for a new pumper/tanker, while $12,000 was awarded through USDA for a new police car. A $16,200 grant from the State Emergency Management Agency was also awarded during September for the Citizens Corps Program/CERT team.

Hitchcock, who was hired in July 2006 the economic development director, said she has written 18 grants applications as part of her job. Eleven of these grants were funded while notification is pending on four more.

Other grants received included $25,367 for a radio repeater tower; $11,000 for the Citizens Corps Program; and $12,000 worth of fire school training for volunteers.

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