Fire, ambulance grant program accepting applications
HARRISBURG – State Rep. Camille “Bud” George, D-74 of Clearfield County, has announced that the state Department of Transportation is now collecting bids from contractors for a new $10 million PennDOT engineering office building to be built at the Clearfield Firemen’s Commerce Park.
“I’m very happy to see this project moving forward after four years of pushing it with the Clearfield Foundation,” George said. “To see this moving forward is very heartening.”
The project will include a two-story, 73,000-square-foot engineering office building, as well as a separate 6,500-square-foot, pre-engineered maintenance garage.
A pre-bid conference has been scheduled for 10 a.m. Oct. 1, 2012, at the PennDOT Engineering District 2-0 Office, located at 1924 Daisy St., Route 322 in Clearfield. Bids for the project’s separate General, HVAC, Plumbing and Electrical Construction contracts must be submitted by 2 p.m. Oct. 17.
George also said that the state Office of Fire Commissioner is now accepting applications for grants available through the 2012-2013 Fire Company and Volunteer Ambulance Service Grant Program.
“This is a great program for our emergency responders,” George said. “Last year, more than $240,000 was awarded to local fire and ambulance companies.”
Eligible companies can use the funds for a variety of expenditures, including equipment, facility renovations and training. The deadline to apply is 4 p.m. Oct. 19, and more information can be found at www.osfc.state.pa.us/.
George also reminded those emergency response companies that the applications for liquid fuels tax refunds for agricultural producers and volunteer fire, ambulance and rescue squads are due Sept. 30.
“This is an important opportunity for eligible entities to receive a refund on liquid fuels taxes paid for fuel used in official activities,” George said. “It’s possible for our farmers and volunteer emergency companies to save a lot of well-needed dollars especially if our fire and ambulance companies take advantage of the grants mentioned earlier as well.”
Applications for the refunds are available by calling the state Treasury Department’s Board of Finance & Revenue at 717-787-6534.
