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Grants for Rural Volunteer Ambulance Services

Fire departments and other organizations that offer ambulance services have high expenses for their equipment and vehicles, which individually can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. Ambulance services in rural areas, many of which are volunteer-based, face additional budgetary challenges because of less tax revenue than in cities. Government agencies, such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency or the United States Department of Agriculture, can help pay for these types of expenses with grant programs.

  1. Assistance to Firefighters Grants

    • The Federal Emergency Management Agency has four grant programs volunteer ambulance services can tap into as a resource for funding. The Assistance to Firefighters Grants program awards grants for equipment and training; Staffing for Adequate Fire & Emergency Response grants are for hiring or training personnel; Fire Prevention & Safety grants are intended for projects like educational programs; and Station Construction Grants fund building or updating stations. Applications in most cases are predominantly from volunteer departments and departments in rural areas. In 2009, for example, the Assistance to Firefighters Grants program received 56.6 percent of its applications from volunteer departments, and 76.6 percent of the applicants were from rural communities.

      U.S. Department of Homeland Security

      800 K. St., N.W.

      Washington, DC 20472

      866-274-0960

      firegrantsupport.com

    Community Facilities Grants

    • Government-run ambulance services in rural areas are eligible for Community Facilities Grants from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Office of Rural Development. Applicants in communities of 20,000 people or fewer are eligible. The USDA will pay for up to 75 percent of the costs associated with a project. The department gives priority to communities with up to 5,000 people or low-income communities. The USDA also gives preference to projects involving health care, as well as public safety and community services. The grants are open to any government agency, Native American tribe or nonprofit organization.

      USDA Rural Development

      1400 Pennsylvania Ave., S.W., Rm. 205-W

      Washington, DC 20250

      202-720-4581

      rurdev.usda.gov

    Rural Health Network Development Grants

    • The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Health Resources and Services Administration offers a grant that covers rural areas better by linking health-care services, including ambulances. The administration awards grants from the Rural Health Network Development Grants to any public or private nonprofit group networked with at least two other organizations. The HRSA budgeted $4.5 million for its 2010 funding cycle, with the average award expected to be $180,000. The grant program gives funding priority to applicants that prove they are in medically underserved or under-covered areas.

      HRSA

      5600 Fishers Lane

      Rockville, MD 20857

      877-464-4772

      hrsa.gov

    Rural Fire Assistance Grants

    • Ambulance services at volunteer fire departments are eligible for grants from the U.S. Department of the Interior's Rural Fire Assistance program. Recipients can use the money to pay for equipment, training and vehicles, including ambulances. The department awards grants to state agencies, or states can group together and apply for grants as a region.

      Department of the Interior

      1849 C. St., N.W.

      Washington, DC 20240

      202-208-3100

      doi.gov

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