Local departments display new equipment and apparatus as the state presents fire station construction grants.
, August 25, 2025
In a Shawneetown ceremony, the state awarded significant grants to three Southern Illinois fire departments to repair, upgrade or build stations and buy equipment. Shawneetown and Carrier Mills each received $350,000 while Equality was awarded $300,000. These awards are part of the inaugural Fire Station Construction and Rehabilitation Program, which distributed $5 million to 16 grantees statewide. The state fire marshal highlighted complementary programs including a 0% interest truck and ambulance revolving loan and a small equipment grant program for gear like air packs. Funds will move into planning, procurement and construction according to local timelines.
In a ceremony held in Shawneetown, Illinois, the state presented significant funding to three Southern Illinois fire departments to repair, upgrade, or build fire stations and buy essential equipment. The Shawneetown Fire Department and the Carrier Mills Fire Department each received $350,000, while the Equality Fire Department was awarded $300,000. The awards are part of an inaugural statewide Fire Station Construction and Rehabilitation Program that aims to improve safety and infrastructure for local fire services.
The state fire marshal visited the Shawneetown station to present the funding and to highlight the broader program. At the event, Carrier Mills displayed a new fire engine that was purchased with help from the state’s Fire Truck and Ambulance Revolving Loan Program. Shawneetown showed recently purchased air packs funded by the Small Equipment Grant Program. Local leaders described the financing as vital to departments that otherwise would struggle to pay for costly vehicles and building work.
Reporting from the event included differing figures for the combined local awards on site. One account at the presentation listed a combined total of $1 million for the three departments, while another account described more than $1.5 million delivered to area departments that day. The statewide program totals, however, are clear: this inaugural round provided $5 million to 16 recipients.
The Fire Station Construction and Rehabilitation Program was created to help fire departments repair existing stations, upgrade facilities, add training rooms, or build new stations. Grants through the program can cover planning, construction, and rehabilitation costs, with a stated award cap of $350,000 per project. The awards were made through a competitive Notice of Funding Opportunity process that was open to municipal fire departments, fire protection districts, and township fire departments.
Department and village leaders at the presentation said the funding will make projects possible that otherwise were out of reach. Shawneetown leaders noted their main station, built in 1984, needs renovations and new equipment. Carrier Mills officials described the revolving loan fund at 0% interest as a practical lifeline for departments facing vehicle costs that can exceed $350,000. Equality leaders said the grant will allow their village to plan a modern station with training space that they could not have funded on their own.
The inaugural program listed the following grantees and award amounts across Illinois:
The state fire marshal’s office manages several programs designed to support local fire services. The Fire Truck and Ambulance Revolving Loan Program offers 0% interest loans for vehicles, aiming to ease the burden of expensive apparatus purchases. The Small Equipment Grant Program helps departments buy high-cost gear such as air packs. Together with the construction and rehabilitation grants, these programs form a package of aid intended to bolster firefighter safety and community protection.
Awarded funds are expected to move into planning, procurement, and construction phases according to local project timelines. Departments selected in the competitive NOFO process will follow state guidance on spending and reporting. Fire departments that missed this initial round can look for future solicitations and program guidance from the state fire marshal’s office.
Municipal fire departments, fire protection districts, and township fire departments were eligible to apply under the competitive Notice of Funding Opportunity.
The inaugural round distributed a total of $5 million across 16 grantees, with individual construction awards available up to $350,000.
Grants can be used for repair, rehabilitation, and construction of fire stations, including planning, building upgrades, and added training space.
Additional programs include a 0% interest revolving loan program for fire trucks and ambulances and a small equipment grant program to buy costly gear such as air packs.
The Fire Station Construction and Rehabilitation awards are described as grants in this program, while separate revolving loan programs provide 0% interest loans for vehicles.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Program name | Fire Station Construction and Rehabilitation Program (inaugural round) |
| Maximum grant | $350,000 |
| Statewide funds awarded | $5,000,000 to 16 grantees |
| Local awards at event | Shawneetown $350,000; Carrier Mills $350,000; Equality $300,000 |
| Other programs | 0% interest truck and ambulance loans; small equipment grants for gear like air packs |
| Application method | Competitive Notice of Funding Opportunity open to eligible fire entities |
| Intended uses | Repair, upgrade, construction, planning, and training space additions |
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