Brooks Helps Secure $500,000 in Funding for Corry Firehouse Project and Introduces Legislation to Dedicate Additional Funding to Fire Departments

HARRISBURG (Dec. 23, 2020) As hometown fire departments across the Commonwealth struggle to recruit and retain firefighters, Sen. Michele Brooks announced the awarding of a $500,000 state grant to the Corry Fire Department from the highly competitive Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) to increase building capacity for the collaboration of multiple local fire departments.  

The Corry area plans to devote the funds to help unite three local fire departments into a single facility.  This funding will help renovate the former Corry Public Works building into a facility that can better aid this partnership.

“The project will help three local fire departments share resources while continuing to provide emergency coverage for not only the Corry area but rural areas that reach into Warren County,” Brooks said. “I am incredibly thankful for all of our local fire departments, the continued dedication they show, and the sacrifices they make to protect our families and communities.

“I also fully understand the time that these local heroes spend in fundraising to purchase safety equipment that protects our communities,” she added.  “This is why I have introduced legislation to dedicate five percent of the philanthropic portion of 50/50 revenue collected from raffles by minor and major league sports teams to our fire departments.”

Brooks’ legislation follows the passage of Act 56 of 2019, the Sports Raffles Charities Act, which authorized Major League and collegiate sports teams to conduct 50/50 drawings at sporting events, open practices, scrimmages and exhibitions.  

“Faced with limited funding, dwindling ranks, and extremely expensive equipment, our local firefighters have frequently faced steep financial challenges, which have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and the cancellation of so many essential annual fundraisers.  This is an opportunity to strengthen funding for these everyday heroes, who are protecting our communities,” Brooks said. 

“This is a great move for Corry, which allows them to combine two turn-of-the-century firehouses that are becoming obsolete,” said Rick Novotny, Executive Director of Corry Economic Development entities. “This helps fire departments to co-locate with all equipment and people in one place, and ready to go to one place, while also allowing two other buildings to be redeveloped into something tourism-related.”

CONTACT:   Diane McNaughton              (717) 787-1322                 dmmcnaughton@pasen.gov

Back to Top