Prince Edward given nearly $1 million grant for its firefighters, EMS agencies

PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) — Prince Edward County received a nearly $1 million grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for its firefighters and emergency medical services (EMS) agencies.

According to an Aug. 13 press release, this Assistance to Firefighters Grant totals $990,761 and will replace outdated portable radios across the county with new, state-of-the-art models — something that will allow these agencies to perform their jobs with more ease.

“This grant represents a major step forward in our efforts to equip our fire and rescue personnel with the best technology available,” said Douglas P. Stanley, county administrator, in the release. “With these new portable radios, our responders will be better equipped to communicate effectively in the most challenging situations, ultimately improving our ability to protect and serve the community.”

The release states that the new radios will be more reliable, more durable and have clearer communication channels.

Previously, in December 2023, Prince Edward County’s Board of Supervisors approved $6.3 million for a new county-wide public safety radio system, according to the release.

“The cost of the new system, a Motorola P25 UHF Phase 2 Trunked Radio System, will be split between Prince Edward County (77%), the Town of Farmville (20%), Longwood University (2%) and Hampden-Sydney College (1%),” the county said in its release.

This new grant will help offset some of that cost.

“This award reflects the county’s ongoing dedication to enhancing public safety and ensuring that our emergency services are well-prepared to handle a wide range of incidents,” the county said.

The Assistance to Firefighters grant program, administered by FEMA, focuses on providing fire departments and EMS agencies with the funding for equipment, training and other valuable resources.

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