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.
State officials delivered funding to three Southern Illinois fire departments during a visit to Shawneetown, where the Shawneetown Fire Department received $350,000, Carrier Mills Fire Department received $350,000, and Equality Fire Department received $300,000. The awards are part of the inaugural Fire Station Construction and Rehabilitation Program, created to repair, upgrade, or build modern fire stations across the state.
The statewide initiative issued $5 million in its first year to 16 grantees. At the Shawneetown visit, reporting on the three local awards varied: some materials described a combined total of $1 million for the three departments, while other accounts noted the event presented more than $1.5 million in funding when including related programs and loans showcased during the visit.
The newly launched Fire Station Construction and Rehabilitation Program offers grants up to $350,000 to help fire departments and fire protection bodies fund construction and rehabilitation projects. The awards were chosen through a competitive Notice of Funding Opportunity open to fire departments, fire protection districts, and township fire departments.
The inaugural recipients include a mix of single and multi-department awards across the state. Notable awards in Southern Illinois included Shawneetown and Carrier Mills at $350,000 each and Equality at $300,000. The full roll of 16 grantees and amounts is summarized below in the accompanying table.
State fire marshal staff also described several other financing and equipment programs that work alongside the construction grants:
At the Shawneetown gathering, Carrier Mills showed a recently acquired fire engine purchased with assistance from the revolving loan fund, while Shawneetown displayed newly purchased air packs funded by the small equipment program. Local leaders noted that without these combined funding streams, many departments would struggle to afford vehicles, protective gear, and needed building renovations for stations dating back decades. Shawneetown’s main station was identified as having been built in 1984 and is slated for planned renovations supported by the grant.
The inaugural competitive NOFO evaluated applications from eligible fire agencies across the state. Grants were awarded to a diverse set of communities to address both urgent safety needs and longer-term infrastructure projects. The program is intended to be a reproducible model for future rounds of funding, pairing construction grants with low-cost loans and targeted equipment grants to maximize community-level impact.
Departments interested in future funding rounds or in the state’s revolving loan and equipment grant options are encouraged to consult Office of the State Fire Marshal resources for details on upcoming NOFOs, eligibility, and application guidance.
The Shawneetown Fire Department and Carrier Mills Fire Department each received $350,000, and the Equality Fire Department received $300,000.
The inaugural Fire Station Construction and Rehabilitation Program awarded a total of $5 million to 16 grantees statewide.
Grants may be used to repair, upgrade, or construct fire stations and related training spaces and infrastructure.
Yes. The Office of the State Fire Marshal operates a 0% interest revolving loan program for fire trucks and ambulances and a Small Equipment Grant Program for costly gear like air packs.
Recipients were selected through a competitive Notice of Funding Opportunity open to fire departments, fire protection districts, and township fire departments.
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Program name | Fire Station Construction and Rehabilitation Program |
| Total statewide (2025) | $5,000,000 to 16 grantees |
| Max award | $350,000 |
| Local awards highlighted | Shawneetown $350,000; Carrier Mills $350,000; Equality $300,000 |
| Other OSFM programs | 0% revolving loans for vehicles; small equipment grants for air packs and gear |
| Eligibility | Fire departments, fire protection districts, township fire departments |
| Selection method | Competitive NOFO process |
Tamms Fire Department $71,011; Equality Fire Department $300,000; Shawneetown Fire Department $350,000; McLeansboro Fire Department $350,000; Village of Gorham Volunteer Fire Department $350,000; Buncombe Fire Department $350,000; Vienna Fire Department $350,000; Kell Community Fire Protection District $348,000; Bath Fire Protection District $350,000; Witt Volunteer Fire Protection District $331,000; Village of Chapin Fire Department $28,415; Franklin Fire Protection District $350,000; Spring Creek Fire Protection District $350,000; Carrier Mills Fire Department $350,000; Ware-Wolf Lake Fire Protection District $349,789; Norris City Fire Protection District $71,785.
For departments seeking future funding, it is recommended to follow official program announcements for NOFO release dates, application instructions, and documentation requirements.
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