Illinois Awards Fire Station Construction Grants to Three Southern Illinois Departments

State awards millions to rebuild and upgrade fire stations in Southern Illinois

State officials have handed out grants and loans to several Southern Illinois fire departments to help repair, upgrade, or build new fire stations. At a presentation held in Shawneetown, three local departments received funding: Shawneetown and Carrier Mills were each awarded $350,000, and Equality received $300,000. The awards at that event were part of a larger, inaugural statewide effort that distributed a combined $5 million to 16 grantees.

Top line: who got money and why it matters

The money comes from the new Fire Station Construction and Rehabilitation Program, set up to help volunteer and local fire departments improve safety, update aging stations, and meet modern needs. The program can fund project costs up to $350,000 per recipient. Local departments can use the funds for construction, major repairs, and creating space for training and gear.

How the awards were announced

The presentation in Shawneetown was led by the state fire marshal’s office. The visit included demonstrations of equipment and vehicles bought through other state programs: Carrier Mills showed a newly purchased fire engine funded by a zero-interest revolving loan program, and Shawneetown displayed new air packs bought through a small equipment grant program. Department leaders said the grants and loans make costly upgrades possible and relieve financial strain on small local budgets.

Program size and selection

This was the program’s inaugural round. Awards were selected through a competitive Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) that invited fire departments, fire protection districts, and township fire departments to apply. The statewide awards funded 16 projects with a total of $5 million distributed across Illinois.

Local and statewide totals

At the Shawneetown event, the three Southern Illinois departments present received the amounts listed above. Reporting on the event included two sums for the local ceremony: one account listed the three Southern departments receiving a combined $1 million, while another account referenced more than $1.5 million in funding presented across the visit. The statewide program, which the local awards are part of, totaled $5 million.

Who received 2025 grant awards

Recipients selected in the inaugural round include small and regional departments across the state. The 16 awardees and amounts were:

• Tamms Fire Department (Alexander) — $71,011
• Equality Fire Department (Gallatin) — $300,000
• Shawneetown Fire Department (Gallatin) — $350,000
• McLeansboro Fire Department (Hamilton) — $350,000
• Village of Gorham Volunteer Fire Department (Jackson) — $350,000
• Buncombe Fire Department (Johnson) — $350,000
• Vienna Fire Department (Johnson) — $350,000
• Kell Community Fire Protection District (Marion) — $348,000
• Bath Fire Protection District (Mason) — $350,000
• Witt Volunteer Fire Protection District (Montgomery) — $331,000
• Village of Chapin Fire Department (Morgan) — $28,415
• Franklin Fire Protection District (Morgan) — $350,000
• Spring Creek Fire Protection District (Pike) — $350,000
• Carrier Mills Fire Department (Saline) — $350,000
• Ware-Wolf Lake Fire Protection District (Union) — $349,789
• Norris City Fire Protection District (White) — $71,785

Other related programs

The state fire marshal’s office operates several programs that help departments beyond the station grant. A Fire Truck and Ambulance Revolving Loan Program offers 0% interest loans for vehicle purchases, which local leaders described as vital because basic fire trucks can cost well into the mid-hundreds of thousands of dollars. A Small Equipment Grant Program helps departments buy high-cost gear like breathing air packs and other lifesaving tools.

Local impacts

Department officials at the event said the funding will cover much-needed projects and gear that their small budgets could not otherwise afford. One department highlighted that its home station was built in the 1980s and needs renovations. Leaders also noted that the combination of grants and low-cost loans gives small communities a practical path to modernize equipment and training space.

Next steps for communities

The program used a competitive application process. Fire departments interested in future rounds should watch for notices of funding opportunities from the state fire marshal’s office and be prepared to document community needs, project costs, and plans for long-term station use and firefighter safety.