MINFORD, Ohio — The Minford Volunteer Fire Department has been selected as a recipient of the 2023 Volunteer Fire Assistance (VFA) Grant by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Forestry. The grant, aimed at enhancing firefighting capabilities, will support the purchase of MARCS communication devices and wildfire Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
In an official letter addressed to the Fire Department Cooperator, Craig Conkel, the VFA Program Administrator, Aaron Kloss, expressed pleasure in announcing the agency’s successful application. The project, identified as Project #: 2023-4, outlines the acquisition of essential communication devices and firefighting gear with an estimated total project cost of $17,528.32. The ODNR Division of Forestry has committed to reimbursing half of the expenses, with a maximum reimbursement of $8,764.16 through the VFA Grant.
Official project commitment documents, including a subrecipient grant agreement and attachment, will be provided soon for the Minford Volunteer Fire Department’s review and signature. The ODNR Legal section is currently reviewing these agreements, and once approved, they will be promptly sent to the recipient. To expedite the project’s commencement, the effective date of the subrecipient agreement is set for February 13, 2024. This means that the Fire Department can initiate the ordering and purchasing of items related to the grant on that date, even if the grant agreement is still undergoing review.
The ODNR Division of Forestry encourages the Minford Volunteer Fire Department to reach out for any inquiries or assistance related to managing the grant. Aaron Kloss can be contacted at 614-265-6896 or [email protected].
Funding for the Volunteer Fire Assistance program is provided through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service, authorized by the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act.