During their Jan. 7 meeting, City Commissioners approved a federal grant application to help Great Falls Fire Rescue to purchase equipment.
GFFR is seeking $199,704.25 through the federal Emergency Management Agency’s Assistance to Firefighters grant program.
If approved, the federal share would be $181,549.32 and the city’s 10 percent match would be $18,154.93.
“This grant will address the critical need for updated equipment to improve firefighter safety and operational readiness,” according to GFFR.
GFFR seeking federal grant for equipment
The city will be notified in September or October if it has been awarded the grant and those funds would be spent during the city’s budget for fiscal year 2026, which will run from July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026.
If the city receives the grant, commissioners will be asked to accept or reject the funds at that time.
GFFR is requesting grant funds toward $52,715 worth of new personal protective equipment and $146,989.25 of operational equipment. The city’s match will come from GFFR’s budget.
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GFFR Chief Jeremy Jones told The Electric their grant request would fund bail out kits for high rise operations, a new ambulance gurney system that lifts the gurney so no one gets injured, adult and baby mannequins for medical training, plus additional nozzles and hoses.
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“This grant is vital as GFFR’s current budget constraints do not support large-scale equipment upgrades without external assistance. Approval of this application allows GFFR to pursue critical funding that addresses operational and safety equipment gaps, ensuring continued compliance with industry standards and improved service delivery to the community. Failure to secure this grant may hinder the department’s ability to maintain optimal response capabilities and firefighter safety,” according to GFFR’s staff report.
Commissioners could reject the application to explore other funding sources, “though options are limited given financial constraints,” according to GFFR’s staff report.
