$12 million available for operating expenses
For the Tomahawk Leader
WISCONSIN – The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) announced on Monday, June 13 that it will begin receiving requests for applications (RFAs) for $12 million dollars in EMS Flex Grant funding recently unveiled by Governor Tony Evers alongside an additional $22 million investment toward emergency response in the state.
The investment comes from the American Rescue Plan Act – Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds, DHS said.
Under the Flex Grants, funds will be provided for reasonable operating expenses for EMS, including, but not limited to:
- Medical and personal protective equipment/protective supplies
- Emergency operations, including training required to maintain licensure or upgrade service level
- Response equipment, including training required to operate the equipment
- Emergency response vehicles
- Emergency medical devices/trauma stabilization/pediatric and neonatal transport equipment
- Staff recruitment and retention
All EMS services licensed in the state of Wisconsin are eligible to request funding. Applications are due before 4 p.m. on Monday, July 11, 2022. Grant awards are expected to be announced in August.
There are 791 Wisconsin-based EMS services, and over 16,000 licensed providers delivering pre-hospital emergency medical care statewide. There are over 450 EMS services that are solely volunteer or operating with a combination of volunteers, part-time and full-time staff.
DHS said the grants are part of the $30 million investment in emergency medical services Evers announced in his State of the State address on Feb. 15, 2022.
“We are so appreciative of the Governor’s commitment to EMS in Wisconsin, and we encourage all EMS services in the state’s largest cities, in small towns, and our rural areas to apply for this funding to build on the excellent work they do on behalf of their local communities day in and day out,” said Karen Timberlake, DHS Secretary-designee.
“Wisconsin’s emergency medical services responders are among the first on the scene during our darkest hours—from a heart attack to a house fire—providing consistent, high-quality services when we need them most,” Evers stated. “For too long, local communities have been doing more with less, especially in our rural communities, who’ve had to cut critical public safety services due to lack of resources. These investments will help support EMS and health care access across our state by providing EMS providers the support they need to be there when folks need them.”
More information on the EMS Flex Grant, including how to apply, can be found on the DHS website at www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/ems/flex-grant.htm.