Province boosts emergency fund for first responders, adds regional stream

Nova Scotia is increasing the amount of funding available for first responders to help better equip them in the event of emergencies.

First responder organizations can now apply for up to $30,000 from the Emergency Services Provider Fund, which is a $10,000 increase from last year.

The province announced Friday it is raising the maximum amount available to individual organizations and adding a new regional component to the fund for shared equipment and broader projects.

Emergency Management Minister Kim Masland says the total fund is increasing to $4 million this year, up from $2.8 million.

“First responders play such a crucial role in keeping Nova Scotians safe,” said Masland. “This year, we’re increasing the amount of the fund to $4 million to better equip and support our first responders.”

The program will also now cover up to 90 per cent of costs, up from 75 per cent.

Applications for the individual funding stream opened Thursday and will close on July 30. A separate regional stream will open Sept. 1 with up to $200,000 available and close Oct. 14.

Examples of eligible purchases by individual organizations include:

• Personal protective equipment and self-contained breathing apparatus
• Firefighting, communication, rescue and water suppression tools
• Emergency power systems
• Hazardous materials response equipment

Under the regional stream, eligible purchases and initiatives include:

• Major equipment and specialized vehicles or trailers
• Regional training facilities and shared equipment pools
• Mobile command units and multi-purpose terrain vehicles
• Public education projects, training programs, and mental health resiliency supports
• Regional FireSmart program enhancements

Quick facts:

• The province is investing $4 million in the fund this year, an increase of $2.8 million
• Organizations can now apply every two years instead of every three

More information and applications are available online here.