AgStar Fund Awards $100,000 in Grants to Rural Emergency Services Teams in Rural Minnesota and Wisconsin
This grant program impacts 43 EMS departments throughout their service area
MANKATO, Minn. (December 2, 2010) – The AgStar Fund for Rural America, the corporate giving program of AgStar Financial Services, is proud to announce $100,000 in grants was recently awarded through their Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Grant Program. This program awards grants up to $2,500 towards funding equipment for volunteer fire, rescue and ambulance squads in AgStar’s 69 county service area.
This year’s response to the grant program was overwhelming. A record number of 163 grant applications were submitted. In order to further support the volunteers who keep our communities safe, the Fund Board of Trustees doubled the EMS grant program budget, to a total of $100,000. Grants were awarded to 43 deserving EMS departments throughout Minnesota and northwest Wisconsin.
According to John Monson, Chair of AgStar’s Fund Board of Trustees, “There is a staggering number of deserving volunteer fire, rescue and ambulance departments in our service area, struggling on limited budgets, making the need for improved equipment and safety gear greater than ever before. Many lack basic communications equipment and up-to-date protective wear needed to help keep our first responders safe while serving and protecting their local communities.”
The Wisconsin and Minnesota departments receiving grants this year include: Adams Firemen's Relief Association, Alden Volunteer Fire Department, Belgrade Fire / Rescue Department, Blue Earth Fire Department, Boyceville Community Ambulance Service, Brownsdale Volunteer Fire Department, Byron Fire Department, Caledonia Fire Department, Chandler Volunteer Fire Department, Cleveland Fire & Rescue, Cohasset Fire and Rescue, Cokato Volunteer Fire Department, Courtland Fire and Rescue, Ellsworth Rescue Relief Department, Elysian Fire Department, Emily Volunteer Fire Department, Fulda Community Fire Department, Glencoe Fire Department, Glenwood City Fire Department, Henderson Fire Department, Heron Lake Emergency Medical Service, Heron Lake Fire Department, Holdingford Fire and Rescue, Janesville Fire Department, Kimball Fire and Rescue, Lakefield Ambulance Service, Lake Henry Fire and Rescue, Le Center Volunteer Ambulance, Melrose Fire Department, Nicollet Rural Fire Department, Odin Volunteer Fire Department, Pine Island Fire Department, Rock County Ambulance, Rushford Fire Department, Rose Creek Fire Department, Sand Creek Fire Department, Sleepy Eye Ambulance Service, Squaw Lake Fire Department, Thomson Township Fire & Rescue, Waseca Fire Department, Windom Ambulance Service, Wrenshall Fire Department, Zumbrota Area Ambulance.
Since its inception in 2001, the AgStar Fund has donated more than $2.9 million to organizations working to improve the future of rural America. The Fund’s mission is to “enhance the quality of life and future opportunities for rural residents and their communities.” The Fund focuses on one of the four key areas of support: Education, Technology, Environment and Quality of Life.
About AgStar:
AgStar Financial Services, ACA, headquartered in Mankato, Minn., employs more than 600 full-time team members. The company is part of the national Farm Credit System and has a public mission to serve 69 counties in Minnesota and northwest Wisconsin. AgStar’s industry specialization, client segments and market delivery systems result in diversification nationwide. The company has expertise in the corn, soybean, swine, dairy and bio-energy industries. AgStar has developed successful programs in loans, leases, crop insurance, tax services, accounting, consulting and rural home mortgages. As a value-added financial services cooperative, AgStar allocates patronage dividends to its 13,000 stockholders. Visit www.AgStar.com for more information.
Contact:
Terri Fast
507-344-5108
Terri.Fast@AgStar.com
(Back to Press Releases)