WESTVILLE – State Senator Scott Bennett (D-Champaign) is pleased to announce the Westville Area Fire Protection District will receive funding through the Small Equipment Grant Program, administered by the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal for equipment upgrades.

“First responders put their lives on the line every day to keep our communities safe,” Bennett said. “This equipment grant comes at a critical time for this fire department and will allow them to replace outdated gear that no longer meets current standards.”

The Small Equipment Grant Program was established by OSFM to provide grants of up to $26,000 to support small firefighting and ambulance equipment purchases. A total of $3.3 million was awarded to 149 fire departments and EMS providers across the state through the program.

The Westville AFPD will receive $26,000.

“Departments have had to make tough financial decisions, especially this year during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Illinois State Fire Marshal Matt Perez. “The Small Equipment Grant Program helps reduce the burden on smaller departments/districts while replacing aging and sometimes failing small equipment.”

A complete list of recipients and awards can be found on the OSFM website.