Grants enhance city without raising local taxes
IN THE CITY
Grants are funds that do not need to be repaid and are typically given to non-profit organizations, churches, schools or governmental entities such as cities for a specific charitable purpose. City Council recognizes the value of this type of funding and, in June of 2014, Presque Isle hired a full-time grant writer.
Grant funding allows the city to enhance existing services or programs, provide additional services or programs, improve or repair facilities, purchase new or replacement equipment, provide staff training, and funding to help residents stay safe. This type of funding provides an alternative source of revenue other than taxes.
Since June, the city has received almost $60,000 in grant funding. The projects that were funded include: a rescue boat for the Fire Department, three Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) for public buildings, trees for downtown, trauma first aid kits for our police cruisers, recycling education funds for school-aged children, and emergency funds for General Assistance.
The fire department has been trying to find a way to purchase a rescue boat for several years. Although the community is surrounded by the Aroostook River, the Presque Isle Stream and four lakes, the city did not have funding available for a rescue boat. Last year, there were three water calls, two of which resulted in death. However, there was only one rescue boat in the County. With grant funding from the Stephen & Tabitha King Foundation, the City took possession of a brand new rescue boat in the fall of 2014 and looks forward to getting in the water this spring.
AEDs are important because they strengthen the chain of survival. They can restore a normal heart rhythm in victims of sudden cardiac arrest. New, portable AEDs enable more people to respond to a medical emergency that requires defibrillation. five percent of people who suffer sudden cardiac arrest die before they reach the hospital.
The use of an AED to provide a jolt of electricity to restart the heart could mean the difference between life and death. If a person suffers a sudden cardiac arrest caused by ventricular fibrillation, defibrillation, the suggested treatment, is necessary within minutes. They can strengthen the chain of survival because they can reduce the time to defibrillation for victims of sudden cardiac arrest.
The City has several public buildings: City Hall, the airport, the library, the public safety building, the Forum as well as several other buildings which house staff. However, hardly any of these buildings had AED units. With a grant from Maine Cardiovascular Health Council, the city will be receiving four new AEDs in the next month or so.
Due to our severe winter weather as well as regular “wear and tear,” the trees along Main Street and in our downtown often require replacement. In addition, Presque Isle had plans to supplement the number of trees found in our downtown. Research indicates that green spaces elevate home values, generate jobs and economic vitality. Thanks to a grant from the Maine Forest Service, the city is now able to double the amount of trees to be planted this spring.
Other projects for which the city is currently seeking grant funding include a permanent structure for the public market, cultural programming for the library, funding with which to upgrade the public baseball diamond, public art, funding for parts of the new Community Center, and funding for the library to digitize back issues of The Star-Herald. There are many additional projects on “the list” for which grant funding will be sought should funding become available.
In essence, grant funding can help communities grow stronger and the city of Presque Isle is always seeking ways to grow and enhance our community without placing a burden on our residents and taxpayers.
Kimberly Smith is grant writer for the city of Presque Isle. She can be reached at 760-2722 or via email at ksmith@presqueisleme.us.
