AgStar Fund announces nearly $100,000 in grants to emergency services teams in rural Minnesota and Wisconsin

By News Team
ads@fillmorecountyjournal.com

Fri, Oct 14th, 2011
Posted in Health & Wellness

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The AgStar Fund for Rural America, the corporate giving program of AgStar Financial Services, recently announced $99,919 in grants through their Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Grant Program. This program awards grants up to $2,500 towards funding equipment for volunteer fire, rescue and ambulance squads in AgStar's 69 county service area. Due to the great need and large volume of applications, for the second consecutive year, the AgStar Fund has doubled the budget for this program from $50,000 to $100,000. They distributed over $101,000 in EMS grants in 2010. Since the Fund's inception in 2001, AgStar has awarded nearly $340,000 to fire departments, ambulance teams and rescue squads in Minnesota and Wisconsin.

According to John Monson, Chair of AgStar's Fund Board of Trustees, "Rural communities are being asked to do more with less, even when it comes to emergency services. Many deserving volunteer fire, rescue and ambulance departments are struggling; often making due with outdated communications equipment and gear that compromises the safety of their crews. That's why we at AgStar felt compelled to do more. This is just our way of thanking and supporting the people who serve and protect all of us who live and work in rural communities."

The Minnesota departments receiving grants this year include: Alpha Fire Department, Bigelow Fire Department, Chain of Lakes Fire & Rescue District, Chatfield Fire Department, City of Westbrook, Clarks Grove Fire Department, Deer Park Area Fire Department, Embarrass Region Volunteer Fire Department, Good Thunder Fire Department, Goodhue Fire & Rescue, Grand Meadow Fire & Rescue, Hills Fire Department, Hollandale Fire Department, Kiester Ambulance, Lewisville Volunteer Fire Fighting Co., Madelia Fire Department, Magnolia Volunteer Fire Department, Mazeppa Fire Department, McGregor Area First Responders, Montrose Fire Department, Nerstrand Volunteer Fire Department, New Richland Fire Department, Nicollet Rural Fire Department, Ormsby Fire and Rescue, Orr Volunteer Fire Department, Pequot Lakes Fire Department, Pine EMS, Preston Fire Department, Randall Fire Department, Ross Lake First Responders, Scandia Valley First Response, Spring Valley Fire Department, Upsala First Response, Walters Volunteer Fire/First Responders, Willow River Fire and EMS, Wilson Volunteer Fire Department, Wykoff Fire Department. The Wisconsin departments receiving grants this year are: Boyd-Edson-Delmar Fire Department, Dallas Sioux Creek Joint Fire Department, Fall Creek Area Fire District, Town of Jackson Volunteer Fire Department and Sheldon Fire Protection District.

About AgStar:

AgStar Financial Services, ACA, headquartered in Mankato, Minn., employs more than 600 full-time team members. The company is part of the national Farm Credit System and has a public mission to serve 69 counties in Minnesota and northwest Wisconsin. AgStar's industry specialization, client segments and market delivery systems result in diversification nationwide. The company has expertise in the corn, soybean, swine, dairy and bio-energy industries. AgStar has developed successful programs in loans, leases, crop insurance, tax services, accounting, consulting and rural home mortgages. As a value-added financial services cooperative, AgStar allocates patronage dividends to its 14,000 stockholders.

The company is also committed to giving back to rural residents, organizations and communities through AgStar's Fund for Rural America. Since its inception in 2001, the AgStar Fund has donated more than $3 million to organizations working to improve the future of rural America. The Fund's mission is "enhancing life in agriculture rural America."

Visit www.AgStar.com for more information.

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