[cifnmedia] Blagojevich nets $10 million to purchase fire trucks
- From: Sean & Kimberly Aaron <cifn@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: CIFN LIST <cifnmedia@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sun, 22 Feb 2004 23:53:56 -0800 (PST)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 1, 2004
June bill signed by Blagojevich nets $10 million to purchase fire trucks
State Fire Marshal seeking fire truck revolving loan applicants
SPRINGFIELD, IL – Illinois Fire Departments have a new and better way of
purchasing their much-needed fire equipment thanks to a law signed by Governor
Rod Blagojevich in June that created the Fire Truck Revolving Loan Program.
Today the Office of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM) is inviting Illinois fire
departments to qualify for the nation’s only zero-interest loan program. The
$10 million program aids fire departments to purchase new trucks and will focus
on the local fire departments most in need of equipment.
In June, the governor signed HB 115, which was sponsored by state Reps. Michael
Smith, D-Canton, and Don Moffit, R-Gilson.
Under the new Fire Truck Revolving Loan Fund, local fire departments can help
ease their financial cost of buying equipment necessary to adequately run a
fire department. Pumper trucks, the type of vehicles used by most fire
departments in smaller communities, cost between $200,000 and $250,000 – an
amount that is prohibitively expensive for many fire departments.
State Fire Marshal staff worked with members of the fire service and banking
communities to write the application and review process for the Revolving Fire
Truck Loan program, which will provide zero-interest loans of up to $250,000 to
fire departments or fire protection districts for the purchase of new fire
trucks. The loans must be repaid at a rate of at least five percent a year for
total payoff within 20 years. The loan application review process weighs
factors, such as, population served, area covered by a fire department or fire
protection districts, age and condition of fire trucks and many other factors
to objectively award the loans.
"Not all departments can afford the fire equipment needed to protect their
communities," said Fire Marshal Peter Viña. "This unique program gives less
fortunate fire departments the ability to purchase the fire equipment they need
to do their jobs."
Sean A. Aaron (CIFN*1)
Central Illinois Fire Network
cifn@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
www.geocities.com/central_illinois_firenet
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