Support for Emergency Services Providers
Through the expanded Emergency Services Provider Fund – available to fire departments, hazardous materials units and ground search and rescue crews – 144 organizations will receive up to $30,000 each. (Province of Nova Scotia / File)
The Province is supporting more than twice as many first responder organizations across Nova Scotia this year with grants for equipment.
Through the expanded Emergency Services Provider Fund – available to fire departments, hazardous materials units and ground search and rescue crews – 144 organizations will receive up to $30,000 each.
“As the foundation of emergency response in this province, it is crucial that we support our first responders and organizations keeping Nova Scotians safe and ensure they have the tools they need to do this effectively,” said Kim Masland, Minister of Emergency Management. “I am so proud our government has expanded the amount of funding for this program, making it the first in Canada to see support at this level for our valued first responders.”
The Province expanded the fund in several ways this year:
- an increase in total program funding to $4 million from $1 million
- grants are now up to $30,000 for individual organizations, an increase from $20,000
- covering up to 90 per cent of eligible costs to the maximum grant amount, compared with 75 per cent previously
- a streamlined process to get funding to organizations faster
- organizations can now apply every two years instead of every three years
- adding regional grants of up to $200,000 to support emergency services across a broader geographic area.
The regional grants are available to partnerships between municipalities and first responder organizations. Applications are open to Dec. 1.
Quick Facts:
- in 2024, $1.2 million was provided to 64 first responder organizations through the fund
- eligible expenses can include personal protective equipment; equipment for communications, firefighting, rescue, water supply and suppression, and dealing with hazardous materials; and emergency power for buildings
- to apply for the regional stream, first responder organizations and municipalities must collaborate to address the collective needs of multiple emergency response organizations in their area
- the fund’s two streams operate at different times – applications for individual organizations opened in the spring, and applications for regional grants opened October 1
Additional Resources:
The list of individual organization recipients is available at: https://beta.novascotia.ca/sites/default/files/documents/1-1830/emergency-service-provider-fund-espf-grant-recipients-en.pdf
More information on the Emergency Services Provider Fund is available at: https://beta.novascotia.ca/apply-funding-buy-equipment-thats-used-directly-response-fire-or-emergency-emergency-services-provider-fund
Regional funding application guidelines: emergency-services-provider-fund-espf-program-guidelines-en.pdf