Sen. Schwank Announces Fire/EMS Grant Awards for Berks County 1st Responders

April 25, 2016

READING, April 25, 2016 – More than five dozen Berks County EMS and fire companies will receive state grants totaling more than $840,000 to help with training, equipment purchases and construction or renovation of facilities, Sen. Judy Schwank announced today.

Twelve Berks County EMS units will receive $86,156, and 54 fire companies are counting a total of $755,728 from the Fire Company, Volunteer Ambulance Service Grant Program.

“Our first responders need the public’s support to help protect our homes and property and come to our aid when we are in distress,” Sen. Schwank said. “Getting this money to our many fire departments and EMS units will help accomplish many goals while improving public safety.”

All fire companies and volunteer ambulance and rescue squads are eligible for the grants.

The following Berks County EMS and fire companies have been earmarked for support:

EMS

Bally Community Ambulance Assoc., $6,991.46

Southern Berks Regional EMS Service, $7,147.70

Blandon Community Ambulance Inc., $7,201.70

Boyertown Lions Community Ambulance Service Inc., $7,201.70

Fleetwood Volunteer Fire Co No 1, $7,201.70

Hamburg Emergency Medical Services Inc., $7,201.70

Lower Alsace Ambulance, $7,201.70

Muhlenberg Area Ambulance, $7,201.70

Oley Fire Company, $7,201.70

Schuylkill Valley Emergency Medical Services, $7,201.70

Topton American Legion Comm Amb Service Inc., $7,201.70

Western Berks Ambulance Association Inc., $7,201.70

FIRE COMPANIES

Friendship Fire Company No 1 of Geigertown, $5,600

Central Berks Fire Company, $11,511.46

Rescue Fire Co No 1 Of Mt Aetna, $11,511.46

Marion Fire Company of Stouchburg, $11,739.29

Union Fire Company Of Bethel, $11,739.29

Alsace Manor Fire Company Truck Crew, $11,967.12

Community Volunteer Fire Company of Lower Alsace Township, $11,967.12

Pioneer Hose Co No 1, $11,967.12

Community Fire Co of Frystown, $12,194.96

Ruscombmanor Fire Company No 1, $12,194.96

Walnuttown Fire Co #1, $12,194.96

Central Fire Co #1 of Laureldale, $12,422.79

Hamburg Volunteer Forest Fire Crew Inc., $12,422.79

Community Fire Co of Seisholtzville, $12,650.62

Community Fire Company Virginville, $12,650.62

Friendship Fire Company # 2, $12,650.62

Shoemakersville Fire Co No 1, $12,650.62

Lyons Volunteer Fire Co 1, $12,878.46

Shartlesville Community Fire Company No 1, $12,878.46

Kenhorst Volunteer Fire Company No 1, $12,900.00

Monarch Fire Co #1, $13,334.12

Amity Fire Company, $13,561.96

Blandon Fire Company No 1, $13,561.96

Fleetwood Volunteer Fire Co No 1, $13,561.96

Gibraltar Fire Co., $13,561.96

Greenfields Fire Co. 1, $13,561.96

Keystone Fire Co No 1 of Shillington, $13,561.96

Keystone Fire Company Rehrersburg, $13,561.96

Kutztown Volunteer Fire Department, $13,561.96

Mount Pleasant Fire Company, $13,561.96

Temple Fire Company 1, $13,561.96

Topton Volunteer Fire Company, $13,561.96

Western Berks Fire Department, $13,561.96

Berks Emergency Strike Team, $13,789.79

Bernville Community Fire Company, $13,789.79

Brecknock Township Fire Company No 1, $13,789.79

City of Reading Pennsylvania Dept of Fire & Rescue Services, $13,789.79

Cumru Township Volunteer Firefighters Association, $13,789.79

Exeter Township Volunteer Fire Department, $13,789.79

Goodwill Fire Co #1 of Hyde Park, $13,789.79

Hereford Fire Company, $13,789.79

Kempton Fire Co Inc., $13,789.79

Mount Penn Fire Company, $13,789.79

Oley Fire Company, $13,789.79

Strausstown Volunteer Fire Company No 1, $13,789.79

Township of Spring Firefighters Inc., $13,789.79

Twin Valley Fire Department, $13,789.79

Union Fire Company No 1 of Leesport, $13,789.79

Union Fire Company No. 1 of Hamburg, $13,789.79

West Reading Fire Company No 1, $13,789.79

Womelsdorf Volunteer Fire Company, $13,789.79

Wyomissing Fire Department, $13,789.79

Eastern Berks Fire Department, $36,561.96

Boyertown Area Fire & Rescue Inc., $36,789.79

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$730k in State Grants to Back Berks Co. Swimming Pool, Parks, Schwank Says

October 20, 2014

READING, Oct. 20, 2014 – Two parks in Berks County and a swimming pool in Fleetwood have been awarded nearly $730,000 in state grants, state Sen. Judy Schwank said today.

The money, from the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, will help to expand French Creek State Park, upgrade Pendora Park and rehabilitate the Fleetwood Community Swimming Pool.

“Berks County presents many wonderful options for outdoor enjoyment and these new state investments will ensure that these destinations exist for many new generations of residents and visitors,” Schwank said. “Getting back to nature will be better and easier for many more thanks to the commonwealth’s support.”

The 11th Senatorial District’s grants are part of $33 million in new grants awarded through DCNR’s Community Conservation Partnership Program. Statewide, 219 grants have been awarded to communities and non-profit organizations for recreation and conservation projects.

The grant awards follow Pennsylvania’s outdoor recreation plan, which keeps the commonwealth eligible for federal land and water conservation investments.

The following Berks County projects received grants:

  • Natural Lands Trust Inc., $316,000 for the purchase of 53 acres along French Creek State Park and Geigerstown Road in Union Township.
  • Reading City, $250,000 for the rehabilitation and continued development of Pendora Park, including an upgrade of the spray park, new playground equipment, ADA access, landscaping and related improvements.
  • Fleetwood Borough, $164,000 to renovate the Fleetwood Community Swimming Pool’s large pool and its bathhouse and concession stand, install a portable pool lift and improve ADA access.

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