The recently announced Volunteer and Composite Fire Departments Equipment and Training funding stream within the Community Emergency Preparedness Fund has revised the eligibility criteria to open the stream to more applicants and expand the grant's reach to support BC's smaller fire departments.
A revised 2019 Program & Application Guide outlines the details of the funding stream and provides full details about the eligibility criteria. The revised program will allow the following to submit applications:
- Local governments (municipalities or regional districts) in BC
- First Nations (bands and Treaty First Nations) in BC
- Legally incorporated society-run fire departments in BC that are in good standing
- Improvement Districts in BC
Additionally, regional districts may apply for a maximum of $25,000.00 for each fire department that they have established a service area for in a single application.
The funding stream was built in partnership with the Office of the Fire Commissioner, and is intended to build the resiliency of volunteer and composite fire departments through the purchase of new or replacement equipment, and to facilitate the delivery of training and exercises.
The application deadline is November 15, 2019. Applications will be reviewed after the application deadline.