The fire department, Chief Stacy Coggins said, received a $100,000 Assistance to Firefighters Grant offered through the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Coggins said after the meeting the money will allow the fire department to buy 15 new air packs, as well as 15 new spare cylinders and 15 new masks.
The fire department had originally requested the air packs during budget negotiations for this fiscal year. The grant saved the city from having to purchase the equipment through installment financing.
With 10 air packs purchased last fiscal year, Coggins said, “We will be good. This replaces everything we had that was out of date.”
The equipment should last the fire department for the next 15 years, he said. “I want to thank the grant committee.”
The committee consisted of Assistant Chief Jason Patrick, Deputy Chief Mike Clements, Battalion Chief Richard Cook and Chris Wicker.
Meanwhile, Main Street Development Director Christina Caudle told council Main Street was one of 53 municipalities to receive a one-time grant in aid of $94,340.
No matching funds are required and the funds were approved in the state’s current fiscal year budget.
Project proposals for the funds have been submitted to the state Department of Commerce and include development of 1026 Roanoke Avenue; a streetscape planning document process; a facade grant program and a local rent subsidy incentive.
Caudle told council the city will receive notification of approval for the projects from the state by October 1. “A special thank you goes to Representative Michael Wray for ensuring Roanoke Rapids was one of the communities to receive state grant funding … as part of HB 1030.”