Governor Mike Parson announced on April 10 that the Missouri Department of Public Safety has approved 70 grants totaling $5 million to law enforcement, fire service and EMS providers in class three counties across the state for new equipment to allow first responders to better respond to emergencies and provide additional protection as they do their jobs.

The Jonesburg-High Hill Fire Protection District was the only Montgomery County-area organization to receive a grant. It will receive $17,343.36.

Grant funded equipment includes patrol vehicles, mobile data terminals, body cameras, firefighter turnout gear, extrication equipment, ambulances, cardiac monitors, pediatric resuscitation devices and emergency communications radios.

“Across our state, Missouri first responders bravely respond to emergencies, including floods, droughts, train derailments, traffic accidents, and beyond. In times of crisis, we call on them, and we could not be more proud,” Parson said. “These grants will provide vitally important equipment to help law enforcement officers, firefighters and EMS personnel do their jobs more effectively and make our Missouri communities safer.”

“Missouri first responders rush toward danger no matter the limitations or age of their equipment,” Missouri Department of Public Safety director Sandy Karsten said. “The $5 million in funding we’re providing means more Missourians facing life-threatening emergencies will be met by responders using up-to-date equipment, trained with modern devices and using interoperable radios that make for better communications. This funding will make a difference in communities across the state.”

Grants were awarded as follows (the complete list of recipients and grants amounts is available here):
• Fire Safety: A total of 35 fire service agencies have been approved to receive a total of over $1,380,000 for equipment, including self-contained breathing apparatus and cylinders, thermal imaging cameras, turnout gear, extrication equipment, firefighting tanker trucks, support vehicles and interoperable radios.
• EMS: A total of 18 emergency medical service providers have been approved to receive a total of over $2,880,000 for equipment, including ambulances, ambulance remounts, automatic compression devices, video laryngoscopes, cardiac monitors, pediatric resuscitation devices, training mannequins, laptops and emergency communications radios.
• Law Enforcement: A total of 17 law enforcement agencies have been approved to receive a total of over $735,000 for equipment, including patrol vehicles, mobile data terminals, body cameras, prisoner transport cages and interoperable communications radios.

Funding for this public safety grant is part of Governor Parson’s plan for Missouri’s American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds and was made possible through Missouri House Bill 20 Section 20.150. The Missouri Department of Public Safety is the grant administrator.
Eligible grant expenditures include equipment and supplies. A 50% local match is required (for example, if the total cost of a project were $40,000, the local recipient would be responsible for $20,000 and the ARPA share would be $20,000). A local agency’s match may be retroactive to March 2020. Local ARPA grant funds may be utilized for the local match.