RICHMOND, Va., Feb. 27, 2024 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development is stepping up in a big way to help ensure that volunteer fire departments in Charlotte and Brunswick counties have the equipment needed to protect lives and property in remote areas of the commonwealth.
“Firefighters put themselves at risk with every response and need the most current tools to perform their jobs safely,” Hickman said. “The nearly $900,000 in funding offered to these three departments highlights our strong commitment to the health and well-being of these hometown heroes and the residents of the communities they serve.”
In Charlotte County, the Drakes Branch Volunteer Fire Department will use a $25,000 grant to properly equip a pumper truck being purchased with agency funds in fiscal year 2023. Needed items include battery-operated tools, rescue struts and a ramp to help pry open parts of vehicles to free those trapped inside (similar to the Jaw of Life™). The nonprofit organization is primarily funded through donations and will use these resources to enhance public safety in this low-income community of approximately 500 people.
In nearby Brunswick County, fiscal year 2023 Community Facilities Program funding was used to help two local departments make critical upgrades:
- The Alberta Volunteer Fire Department was making do with engines procured from nearby communities when they decided to pump the brakes on costly repairs and secured a $843,400 loan to purchase a new pumper truck. The replacement vehicle will enable the small rural department to continue providing vital services to the 3,327 residents of the town of Alberta and Brunswick County's Red Oak District as well as offer backup to other areas as needed. (Get the rest of the story on this one-of-a-kind vehicle with dual pump panels that offer a safe zone for firefighters and ample equipment storage that enables them to work more quickly at efficiently at each scene.)
- The Dolphin Volunteer Fire Department also received a $25,000 grant to purchase supplementary equipment to expand the services of the rural department, which is located near U.S. Route 58 and Interstate 85 with two Dominion Energy power plants in its Brunswick County service area. The closest hospital is approximately 30 miles away and provides limited services. While mass-casualty support apparatus acquired through a local foundation will enhance first responders’ ability to provide critical care at accident scenes, supplementary firefighting/emergency equipment is needed to expand response and triage capacity for incidents in this distressed community and on mutual aid calls in nearby Greensville and Mecklenburg Counties.
Under the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities, create jobs and improve the quality of life for millions of Americans in rural areas. This assistance supports infrastructure improvements; business development; housing; community facilities such as schools, public safety and health care; and high-speed internet access in rural, tribal and high-poverty areas.
For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov. Visit our GovDelivery subscriber page to receive regular USDA Rural Development updates.
