(The Center Square) – A rural hospital in southwest Missouri will receive more than 12% of $5 million in grants awarded by Republican Gov. Mike Parson to 70 law enforcement, fire service and emergency medical service providers.
Citizens Memorial Hospital in Bolivar will receive $635,145 as part of a matching-grant program funded with Missouri’s American Rescue Plan Act funds. Bolivar is the county seat of Polk County, were Parson formerly served as sheriff. The county’s population is 31,591 and is 642 square miles, according to information from the Missouri Association of Counties.
The second-largest grant was $338,419 for the New Madrid County Ambulance District, followed by $326,000 for the Washington County Ambulance District. New Madrid County’s population is 16,434, Washington County’s population is 23,514 and both are in southeast Missouri.
Only public service agencies in Missouri’s 89 class three counties were eligible and a 50% local match was required. Local ARPA funds could be used for the match and expenditures retroactive to March 2020.
More than $2.8 million was approved for 18 emergency medical service providers. Ambulances, ambulance remounts, automatic compression devices, video laryngoscopes, cardiac monitors pediatric resuscitation devices, training mannequins, laptops, emergency communications radios and other equipment will be purchased with the funding.
“Across our state, Missouri first responders bravely respond to emergencies, including floods, droughts, train derailments, traffic accidents and beyond,” Parson said in a statement. “In times of crisis, we call on them, and we could not be more proud. These grants will provide vitally important equipment to help law enforcement officers, firefighters and EMS personnel do their jobs more effectively and make our Missouri communities safer.”
More than $1.3 million was granted to 35 fire service agencies. Equipment to be purchased includes self-contained breathing apparatus and cylinders, thermal imaging cameras, turnout gear, extrication equipment, firefighting tanker trucks, support vehicles and interoperable radios.
Approximately $735,000 was provided to 17 law enforcement agencies. The funds will be used to purchase patrol vehicles, mobile data terminals, body cameras, prisoner transport cages and interoperable communications radios.
“Missouri first responders rush toward danger no matter the limitations or age of their equipment,” Sandy Karsten, director of Missouri’s Department of Public Safety, said in a statement. “The $5 million in funding we’re providing means more Missourians facing life-threatening emergencies will be met by responders using up-to-date equipment, trained with modern devices, and using interoperable radios that make for better communications. This funding will make a difference in communities across the state.”
