The Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance (TDCI) and the Tennessee State Fire Marshal’s Office (SFMO) have announced a new opportunity for rescue squads to apply for $3 million in grant funding through the Rescue Squad Grant Program. Applications will be accepted starting January 21, 2025.
This funding initiative was approved in 2022 by Governor Bill Lee and the General Assembly to assist rescue squads in purchasing lifesaving equipment. The grant awards can be used to procure equipment essential for incident response and the safety of rescue squad members. In previous grant cycles, the program has successfully distributed $5 million to applicants.
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Tennessee State Fire Marshal and TDCI Commissioner Carter Lawrence emphasized the importance of this program in supporting the Governor’s vision of strengthening rural communities in Tennessee. Assistant Commissioner for Fire Prevention Mike Bell also highlighted the program’s role in equipping rescue squads with reliable and effective tools to serve their communities.
Rescue squads eligible for these grants must have an active registration with the Tennessee Secretary of State and must provide a letter from the local government recognizing them as a provider of rescue services. There are over 90 rescue squads across Tennessee, offering specialized services such as extrication, structural collapse response, and swift water rescue.
The application process involves internal scoring and review by a seven-member committee. This committee includes six members from the Tennessee Rescue Squad Association and TDCI’s Assistant Commissioner of Fire Prevention.
Important dates for applicants include an informational webinar on January 21 at 6 p.m. CT, grant application assistance through February 14 at 4 p.m. CT, and an application deadline on February 21 at 12 p.m. CT. Grant awards will be announced on March 28 at 2 p.m. CT.
For questions regarding the grant application process, applicants can reach out to Fire Prevention Programs and Policy Director Marybeth Gribble at (615) 574-9437 or via email at marybeth.gribble@tn.gov.
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