By Patrick Baron

PONTIAC – Fire and emergency organizations in the community are eligible to receive a grant from Illinois American Water.

The Firefighter Grant Program will be dishing out $1,000 grants to those who put their lives on the line to protect others. Illinois American Water President Bruce Hauk explained the grant program has assisted a multitude of community firefighters in the past eight years.

“Since 2010, we’ve had the opportunity to award over $417,000 for over 425 grants to our community firefighters,” Hauk said.

The grants will be able to cover the costs of protective gear, communications equipment, firefighting tools, water handling equipment, training materials, and reimbursement for certain fire training classes.

Fire departments-districts are only eligible for one grant per year. To be eligible for the grant, professional and volunteer fire departments must be serving in Illinois American Water’s service territory.

Fire departments interested in submitting an application for the grant should include a description of the organization seeking support, an overview of the specific project that would be funded and the grant amount request, and the project budget.

Grant application letters are due by Friday, September 7.

Patrick Baron can be reached at [email protected].