Local fire departments are among 61 Illinois communities sharing in $512,217 in federal money.
The governor's office says the money is for matching grants to rural fire protection districts and fire departments through the federal Volunteer Fire Assistance grant program. The program reimburses 50 percent of the recipient's cost for providing training and buying equipment. The U.S. Forest Service grant program is administered in Illinois by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.
Here is a list of fire departments receiving money in our area:
-Rochester Fire Protection District, Sangamon County: $15,000
-Pana Fire Department, Christian/Shelby Counties: $7,311
-Findlay Fire Protection District, Shelby County: $5,375
-Athens-Fancy Prairie Fire Protection District, Menard County: $9,850
-Virginia Volunteer Fire Department, Cass County: $6,182
