MONROE — Compeer Financial’s Fund for Rural America, the Farm Credit cooperative’s giving program, has granted 177 awards through their Emergency Response Equipment Program, including 15 collaboration grants for shared equipment across multiple departments.
These grants are designed to alleviate the financial burden of essential equipment for community emergency response departments serving rural America. The Emergency Response Equipment Collaboration Grant, now in its second year, underscores the importance of teamwork among volunteer fire, rescue and ambulance departments when responding to emergencies.
“We understand that rural departments often pool resources and critical life-saving equipment,” said Karen Schieler, senior corporate giving specialist with Compeer Financial. “The spirit of collaboration is strong among emergency departments within Compeer’s territory, and we aspire to make a positive impact on more lives. First responders selflessly give their all when people are in distress, and these tools and resources will prove invaluable in crucial situations.”
In addition to these grants, Compeer Financial completed a cooperative-wide service project in partnership with Operation Gratitude as a thank you to first responders. Team members created more than 4,200 notes of thanks and paracord lanyards to show appreciation for those who serve their communities as first responders.
The 2023 Emergency Response Equipment Collaboration Grants offer up to $10,000 each and will directly impact 33 collaborating departments, involving 816 department members.
Compeer Financial is a member-owned Farm Credit cooperative serving and supporting agriculture and rural communities. The $30.5 billion organization provides loans, leases, risk management and other financial services throughout 144 counties in Illinois, Minnesota and Wisconsin. Based in the Upper Midwest, Compeer Financial exists to champion the hopes and dreams of rural America, while providing personalized service and expertise to clients and the agriculture industry.
Compeer Financial is the third largest cooperative of the Farm Credit System, a nationwide network of lending institutions supporting agriculture and rural communities with reliable, consistent credit and financial services.
The Compeer Financial Fund for Rural America is the corporate giving program of Compeer Financial, structured to support Compeer Financial’s mission to enrich agriculture and rural America.
Compeer Financial’s Board of Directors has dedicated one percent of annual net earnings to support the Fund’s focus areas of agricultural advocacy and development, agriculture education, cooperative initiatives, rural development and community enrichment; and youth engagement.
The Fund is managed by a Board of Trustees, made up of team members from Illinois, Minnesota and Wisconsin and members of the Compeer Financial Board of Directors.
More information about opportunities available through the Fund can be found at Compeer.com/giving-back.
Learn more about Compeer Financial online.
Regional departments receiving the Emergency Response Collaboration Grants include:
Illinois
● Elizabeth Community Ambulance Service, Elizabeth Fire Protection District, Hanover Fire Protection District: Automated CPR compression device
Wisconsin
● Ridgeway Volunteer Fire Dept Inc, Hollandale Fire Department, Barneveld-Brigham Fire District: Rescue air cushions with a regulator
Additionally, 162 individual departments received Emergency Response Equipment Grants of up to $4,000 each. Since the program’s establishment in 2018, the Fund has distributed 970 Emergency Response Equipment Grants totaling $3 million.
Regional departments receiving Emergency Response Equipment Grants include:
Illinois
● Rockton Fire Protection District: Thermal imaging camera
● Stephenson County TEMS: Radios
● Warren Area Ambulance Service: Pagers
Wisconsin
● Belleville Area EMS: Cardiac monitor/defibrillator batteries and charger
● Brooklyn Fire and EMS Protection District: Harnesses, rope, anchors, stokes basket, CMC clutch, rope bags
● New Glarus Fire Department: Nozzles, valves, and tips
● Ridgeway Volunteer Fire Dept Inc: EMS gear and helmets
● Woodford Volunteer Fire Department: Firefighter turnout gear