With the need to keep others safe more critical than ever, the Wisconsin Public Service (WPS) Foundation is helping the men and women who bravely serve their communities by providing $50,000 through its Rewarding Responders Grant to area first responders. Agencies in northeast and north central Wisconsin can apply for a grant now through June 15.
“Without the community support, we couldn’t survive,” said Dan Van Lanen, lieutenant — Hobart-Lawrence Police Department, whose department received a 2019 grant for a thermal imaging camera. “It’s nice to have organizations like the WPS Foundation step up and help us. We would really struggle without that.”
The WPS Foundation began offering the Rewarding Responders Grant in 2014 to support emergency response agencies in communities served by WPS. Since that time, more than $300,000 has been provided through the grant to help nearly 175 agencies purchase equipment or training to improve public safety. Examples of equipment funded through the 2019 grants include firefighting helmets, water rescue suits, natural gas monitors and heavy-duty rescue saws.
Applying for a grant
To be eligible for a grant, emergency response agencies must:
- Operate in the WPS electric or natural gas service area.
- Complete an online grant application.
- Demonstrate the equipment or training they wish to purchase is part of a well-planned effort to improve public safety. Grants also can be used for safety-related projects that are unique, one-time efforts.
- Not have received a grant in 2019.
Grants of up to $2,000 are available to each eligible department. Interested agencies can apply or learn more information here.
