Monday, Gov. Kay Ivey announced that she had awarded $10 million in COVID-19 pandemic relief funding to establish grants for volunteer fire departments.

The grant program was established from the State Fiscal Recovery Fund with dollars received under the state’s portion of federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding.

In announcing the grant program, Ivey commended the Alabama Legislature for its appropriation of the funding to support first responders.

“Alabama’s first responders, including our community’s volunteer fire departments, are vital in keeping our state safe,” stated Ivey. “While states across the country and the entire globe dealt with the curveballs the pandemic threw, our volunteer fire departments kept going. I am proud to have worked with the Alabama Legislature to direct these funds to good use as our local volunteer fire departments recover. I am pleased to support them and encourage them to take advantage of this grant program.”

For providers that meet eligibility requirements, the state will offer grants up to the amount of $10,320. The application period for the Alabama Volunteer Fire Department COVID Recovery Grant program will be open from noon, March 7 through noon, March 25, 2022.

Dylan Smith is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @DylanSmithAL