AMBOY – Amboy Fire Department Chief Jeff Bryant Sr. has been busy.

Not only is he on call, training his firefighters and emergency medical technicians (EMTS), marketing the department anyway he can, hosting events in the fire station for residents to check out the facilities and modern, updated equipment, but he’s also researching and writing grant applications.

He received notice in the middle of August, the department was approved $231,688 under the Grant Programs Directorate’s Fiscal Year 2023 Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grant.

“These funds are through Department Homeland Security and FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) to improve the number of firefighters and EMTs (Emergency Medical Technician) at scenes of incidents,” said Bryant Sr. “This will pay to train 16 firefighters and EMTs. It will provide their basic and advanced firefighting certification and their EMT certification. Plus, some other ancillary training classes that are provided throughout the grant process.

“In addition, it provides for their physicals and their turnout gear for personal protection and equipment. It provides marketing to help recruit volunteers and pay-on-call firefighters and EMTs.”

Bryant Sr. will also use some of the grant to pay for contract instructors to be on sight so people don’t have to leave Amboy to get training and to market whether it’s social medial, newspaper advertisement, postcards, or banners.

“It’s a pretty nice grant the department has received. About seven or eight years ago, we received a grant similar to this for around $180,000,” Bryant Sr. said. “This one isn’t the largest grant I’ve been a part of. We took in a FEMA grant around 12 years ago for $458,000. That was for radios for the entire county. This one is probably the biggest per Amboy.”

“As far as the training and the equipment, it helps you take those funds you’d normally have to use for staff and training and use those for other things. We are currently getting prepared to buy an ambulance to replace the oldest ambulance we have. These grant funds cover the training and we can use other funds for things such as an ambulance.”

With staffing a critical issue for departments nationwide, Bryant Sr. is trying to use grant money to battle the problem.

Not only for the marketing, but to keep equipment and the station as updated as possible to show recruits the Amboy Fire Protection District wants to have the best of the best for its staff and for the community.

“If we didn’t take the money, someone else would,” Bryant Sr. said. “So, I’m glad through our process of due diligence trying to get grant funds, we’re able to secure this money and give it a shot to try and improve the quality of life for the citizens of Amboy, Harmon, and our neighbors.”