North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey will join United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development (USDA) State Director Robert Hosford Friday in a tour to deliver grant checks to rural fire departments in need of financial assistance. The USDA Rural Development grants are given to various entities in an effort to revitalize the rural Coastal and Eastern Regions of North Carolina.
“These funds are vital to fire departments to purchase needed equipment, and I sincerely appreciate the USDA for providing the funds,” said Commissioner Causey. “One of my deepest concerns is that our rural volunteer firefighters are equipped to respond to the emergencies in their communities. These grants will help them do so. Nobody wants to see their home burn down to the ground for lack of needed equipment.”
Insurance Commissioner and State Fire Marshal Causey will join Hosford and representatives from the office of U.S. Sens. Thom Tillis and Richard Burr, U.S. Reps. Greg Murphy, G.K Butterfield and David Rouzer as well as local officials, in a tour of the towns below:
9:00 a.m. Wallace Town Hall, 316 E. Murray St., Wallace, N.C. 28466
The town of Wallace is receiving two grants: a $487,000 and $595,000 grants to purchase a new rescue vehicle and tanker truck.
10:00 a.m. Greenevers Town Hall, 316 E. Charity Rd., Rose Hill, N.C. 28458
The town of Greenevers is receiving a $31,000 loan and a $48,000 grant to purchase a generator, high lift jack, turnout gear, ladders and a used 2000 freightliner rescue truck.
11:30 Calypso Volunteer Fire Dept., 109 SE Center St., Calypso, N.C. 28325
The town of Calypso is receiving a $171,000 loan and $76,000 grant to construct two additional drive-through bays onto the existing station of the Calypso Volunteer Fire Department.
1:30 Warsaw Fire Dept., 714 N. Pine St. Warsaw, N.C. 28398
The town of Warsaw is receiving a $350,000 grant to purchase two new tanker trucks for the Warsaw Fire Department.
The media is invited to join the tour. For more information, contact NCDOI Communications Director Marla Sink or call 919.807.6017. You may also contact USDA PIO Robert Kerns or call 919.873.2033.