The Vernon Center Fire Department from Vernon Center, Minn., was one of 53 volunteer fire, rescue and ambulance departments across Minnesota to receive an Emergency Response Equipment Grant of up to $4,000 from Compeer Financial. In total, Compeer awarded 160 departments across Illinois, Minnesota and Wisconsin more than $600,000 to use for purchasing new equipment.
Fifty-three emergency response departments serving rural communities across Minnesota have received funding totaling $200,447 through Compeer Financial’s Fund for Rural America. Each department was awarded up to $4,000 to purchase essential equipment and technology upgrades aimed at improving safety, efficiency, and response times.
In total, Compeer Financial awarded 160 Emergency Response Equipment Grants worth more than $600,000 across Illinois, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. The grants are part of Compeer’s effort to help volunteer fire, rescue, and ambulance departments struggling with aging equipment, recruitment challenges, and increasing costs.
“For first responders to give their best, they need to be equipped with the proper tools,” said Karen Schieler, manager of Compeer Giving at Compeer Financial. “We recognize the challenges volunteer emergency response departments face with funding, and we hope these grants help give them the life-saving equipment necessary to effectively respond to critical situations.”
Applications revealed six major areas of need:
Communication Equipment – Upgraded radios and pagers to address coverage gaps and improve communication among departments.
Safety and Protective Gear – New helmets, gloves, and turnout gear to replace outdated PPE and enhance safety standards.
Specialized Rescue Equipment – Modern tools like extrication devices, gas detectors, and thermal imaging cameras for unique rural rescues such as grain bin incidents.
Medical Equipment – LUCAS devices, CO2 detectors, and vital signs monitors to improve patient outcomes in areas with long ambulance response times.
Ventilation and Lighting – Battery-powered fans and LED lighting to improve visibility and reduce smoke damage during operations.
Training Equipment – Updated mannequins and simulators to improve preparedness for emergency scenarios.
Since the program’s start in 2018, Compeer’s Fund for Rural America has provided nearly $5 million in grants to equip volunteer first responders across its 144-county territory. In 2026, the program will transition to the Emergency First Responders Grant, increasing the maximum award to $7,500 and introducing two new grant areas: Essential Response Equipment and Responder Life-Safety Need. Applications will open April 15 and close May 31, 2026.
The Minnesota departments receiving grants this year include Adrian Ambulance Service, Belle Plaine Ambulance Service, Blooming Prairie Fire Department, Carlton Fire Department & Ambulance, Eagle Lake Volunteer Fire Department, Eden Valley Fire Department, La Crescent Fire Department, Mazeppa Fire Department, Odin Fire Department, Trimont Fire Department, Watertown Fire Department, Windom Ambulance Service, and many others.
Compeer Financial’s Fund for Rural America dedicates one percent of annual net earnings to support rural development, agriculture education, and community enrichment. As part of the Farm Credit System, Compeer Financial provides financial services across Illinois, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, supporting rural communities and agriculture with over $35.5 billion in assets.
