By Megan Alley
Sun staff
Williamsburg Township Emergency Services has been awarded a $7,000 grant to help pay for training and equipment.
The funding comes from the Ohio Department of Public Safety Emergency Medical Services. Grant recipients were announced in late June.
Williamsburg Township Emergency Services Chief Kevin Wiedemann said this year’s grant award is the most the department has received from the department of public safety emergency medical services. Last year, the department received $5,000.
“I’m very shocked,” Wiedemann said. “I figured that with all the cuts the state has had to make, our award amount would go down rather than up.”
Wiedemann plans to use the funds to pay for additional equipment for the department, such as vacuum splints and blood pressure machines.
He also plans to use the funds to pay for visiting instructors who will teach continuing education courses and help staff earn certification renewals.
Some of the funds will be used to send new WTES staff to off-site trainings.
“I thank the state a whole lot for giving us this grant money. It’s a big help,” Wiedemann said.
He added, “I call it my Christmas money. If something were to break down, I know I’m not going to be hampered by having to pull from one area to spend in another.”
The department is required to spend the funds before June 30, 2016, or it will be forced to forfeit any remaining funds.
“We’re glad to get [the money],” said Williamsburg Township Trustee Bari Henning. “We can sure put it to good use.”
He added, “Having extra money means we can get other trainings or equipment that we couldn’t have gotten otherwise.”
Fellow trustee Gary Jordan echoed Henning’s sentiments.
“Our EMS department does a great job of securing these grants,” Jordan said. “It helps us, as trustees, be prudent with the township’s funds, and helps us provide the best training and equipment for our staff so they can provide the best services to our residents.”