Northampton County awards 49 public safety grants to municipalities, agencies

EASTON, Pa. — Allen Township Fire Company No. 1 will get $20,000 as part of an upgrade project for Northampton County Radio.

Easton and Wilson fire departments also will get $20,000, for a feasibility study to enhance emergency services, Easton Emergency Squad will get $20,000 more for new ambulances and Wilson Fire Department, $15,000 for radios.

Blue Valley Rescue Squad will get $20,000 to upgrade its emergency communications equipment, as will Williams Township Fire Company to replace antiquated radios, and Palmer Municipal Fire Department for portable radio equipment.

And Wind Gap will get $20,000 for a Slate Belt Regional Police Department detective response vehicle.

Those are the largest of 49 Northampton County Public Safety Grant Awards, totaling $600,000, announced Friday by county Executive Lamont G. McClure.

The grants will support local police, fire and emergency medical service organizations with "critical projects that enhance public safety throughout the county," McClure said in a news release.

‘Serving community at a high level'

The program is designed to help first responder organizations with capital improvements, vehicle and equipment purchases, and training initiatives, according to the release.

“These grants are an important investment in the safety and security of Northampton County residents,” McClure said.

“By supporting our police, fire and EMS organizations, we are ensuring they have the tools, training, and resources needed to respond effectively and keep our communities safe.”

The grant awards will fund a wide variety of projects, including upgrades to P25-compliant radios, new ambulances and replacement of firefighting equipment and tools.

Also turnout gear, protective vests and shields, license plate recognition cameras, radar speed signs and feasibility studies

"These grants provide essential support for both frontline personnel and the communities they serve, ensuring organizations are equipped to respond quickly and effectively in times of need," McClure said in his release.

"Since the program’s inception, the Public Safety Grant Program has provided critical support to first responder organizations, allowing them to modernize equipment, improve capabilities and continue serving the community at a high level."

Other grant recipients

Other grant recipients are:

• Bangor Police Department protective vests and shields, $6,700, and Bangor Fire Department replacement of various equipment, tools and gear, $10,000.
• Bath Volunteer Firefighters and Ambulance Corps Inc., portable radio upgrade, $ 10,000.
• Bethlehem Township, purchase police radios, $15,000, and Bethlehem Township Volunteer Fire Company, purchase of firefighter radios, $10,000.
• Bushkill Township Police Department, P25-compliant mobile radio upgrade, $18,000, and Bushkill Township Volunteer Fire Company, ventilation fans and thermal imaging camera purchase, $10,000.
• Colonial Regional Police Department, police vehicle $18,400.
• Columbia Fire Company No. 1, Roseto, apparatus bay rehabilitation, $10,200.
• Community Fire Company of Forks Township, fire rescue tools, $10,000.
• East Allen Township, supply hose replacement project, $13,000.
• East Bangor Borough Fire department tools and police department ballistic shields, $6,600.
• Forks Township, license plate recognition cameras, $10,000.
• Freemansburg Fire Company No. 1, radio upgrade, $17,600.
• Friends of Bethlehem Mounted Police, NAMUCA training conference, $3,300.
• Hanover Township, Northampton County, radar speed signs, $ 6,700, and Hanover Township Volunteer Fire Company No. 1, multi gas meters and fans equipment purchase, $10,000.
• Hellertown Police, borough work stations, $6,300, and Dewey Fire Company No. 1 Ambulance, Hellertown, purchase of CF Moto Highland utility vehicle, $10,000.
• Lehigh Township, digital portable radios, $15,000, and Lehigh Township Volunteer Fire Company No. 1, P25 800mhz radio purchase, $13,200.
• Lower Mount Bethel/Sandt's Eddy Fire Company, turnout gear, $13,800.
• Lookout Fire Company No. 1 of Pen Argyl, P25 radio upgrade for Engine 3211, Engine 3212 and Rescue 3241, $15,000.
• Lower Saucon Fire Rescue, portable radio upgrades, $15,000, and Lower Saucon Township Police Department, enhancing public safety through automated license plate recognition, $11,800.
• Mount Bethel Volunteer Fire Company New Nozzles for Firefighting $ 10,000.
• Nancy Run Fire Company, Bethlehem, brush firefighting uniforms, $11,500.
• Nazareth, safety gas mask purchase, $11,900, and Vigilance Hose Company No.1, new apparatus firefighting appliances/intake valves, $ 3,300.
• Nazareth Regional Ambulance Corps, Lucas 3 Chest Compression System Proposal, $16,600.
• North Bangor Fire Company, mobile radio upgrades, $17,400.
• North Catasauqua, purchase of 2 E-Bikes, $6,900.
• Northampton Regional Emergency Medical Services Inc., Minitor upgrades, station alerting system upgrade, carriers and straps for patient transport $ 10,000.
• Plainfield Township Volunteer Fire Company, radio upgrade, $10,000.
• Portland Hook & Ladder Company No. 1, tower and high-angle rescue equipment, $4,500.
• Suburban Emergency Medical Services, portable radios for Northampton County, $10,000.
• Tatamy Police Department, borough municipal building door replacements with key fob entry, $9,900.
• Upper Nazareth Township Police Department, speed monitor devices, $10,000.
• Walnutport Police Department, tasers, body-worn cameras and in-car camera systems, $10,000.
• Washington Township Police Department, upfitting of police vehicle, $7,400, and Washington Township Volunteer Fire Company, P25 portable radios, $10,000.