There were lots of big checks – literally and monetarily speaking – in Granville County when a couple of state officials stopped by on Monday to leave more than $176,000 in grant funds for 11 local fire departments.
The ceremonial check presentation was held on Aug. 23 at the Granville County Expo and Convention Center, and county commissioners and representatives of the volunteer fire departments were on hand to receive the money from N.C. Insurance Commissioner/State Fire Marshal Mike Causey and Chief State Fire Marshal/Assistant Commissioner Brian Taylor, according to a press statement from Lynn Allred, county public information officer.
The grants ranged from $6,639 to $30,000 and are part of a statewide program that assists more than 500 volunteer fire departments across the state.
According to the statement, each one of the departments received 100 percent of their requests.
Here’s a breakdown by department:
- Antioch-Fishing Creek Volunteer Fire Department, $11,000
- Brassfield Volunteer Fire Department, $18,450
- Bullock Volunteer Fire Department, $30,000
- Corinth Volunteer Fire Department, $6,639.31
- Cornwall Volunteer Fire Department, $15,927
- Creedmoor Volunteer Fire Department, $24,737.50
- Granville Rural Fire Department, $15,568.50
- Providence Community Fire Department, $8,629.12
- Stem Community Fire Department and EMS, $11,471.46
- Total Community Fire Department of Berea, $10,454
- Virgilina Volunteer Fire Association, $23,608.37
The Volunteer Fire Department Fund was created to assist North Carolina’s volunteer fire departments with purchasing equipment and making capital expenditures. It is administered through the N.C. Department of Insurance/Office of the State Fire Marshal. Fire departments approved for funding are required to provide a dollar-for-dollar match, up to $30,000. Eligible volunteer fire departments must be rated/certified by the N.C. Department of Insurance.
Two paid fire departments and 12 volunteer departments serve Granville County. Each department maintains and provides 24-hour fire protection services.