Matching grant funding available for rural water projects

Posted on 06/05/2012 by Vermont Rural Fire Protection Task Force

 

Program designed to help communities and fire departments cover 50 percent of project costs

BERLIN -- The Vermont Rural Fire Protection Task Force announced today the availability of “Special Cases” funding to help Vermont towns and fire departments develop rural water supplies, such as creating fire ponds, accessing water with “pressurized” hydrants from rural water sources, and other systems. The grant awards will range from $3,000 to $10,000, which will cover half the cost of individual projects.

The deadline for all Special Cases applications is Monday, July 2, 2012. All applications must be IN THE OFFICE by the end of the business day, NOT postmarked by July 2, 2012. We DO NOT accept FAX. Please submit all applications to the VT Rural Fire Protection Task Force, Attention Troy Dare, Northern VT RC&D Council, 617 Comstock Road, Suite 2, Berlin, VT 05602.

The Task Force, through the Northern Vermont RC&D, administers the State Dry Hydrant Grant Program and other grant programs periodically from other State and Federal Agencies to improve fire protection in Vermont – this year offering three grant programs, Dry Hydrant, Emergency Repair & Replacement, and Special Cases. Although funding has been fully allocated for the Dry Hydrant and Emergency Repair programs, money is still available for Special Cases.

The goal of the Special Cases Grant Program is to help rural communities and fire departments afford water supply projects that would otherwise be too expensive to develop. Grant recipients receive funds upon completion of the project. However, if approved, 50 percent of the grant award can be requested in writing for use in getting the project under way.

All field work must be completed as soon as possible, including the permitting process. It is the town and/or fire departments’ responsibility to acquire all the necessary permits (State and/or Federal Army Corps of Engineers permits for Wetlands, Lakes & Ponds, and Stream Alteration).

A 50 percent local match of the total project cost is required, and can be met through pre-owned material, as well as in-kind services like volunteer time and equipment usage.

The full application packet can be downloaded at www.nvtrcd.org/vtrfptf.html . If you have any questions, comments, or you would like to request a hard copy of the packet sent to you by mail, contact Troy Dare, Vermont Rural Fire Protection Task Force Engineering Technician, at (802) 828-4582 or dryhydrantguy@yahoo.com