NYS Public Entities Safety Group 497 and its Executive Committee are pleased to announce the following as winners of the 2020 Public Entity Safety Initiative Grant:

• Berne Fire District - located in Berne, NY - who will be using their grant towards a Rapid Deployment Craft (RDC) package for snow, ice, and water rescues;

• Central Bridge Fire District - located in Central Bridge, NY - who will be using their grant towards a turnout gear washer and extractor machine; and

• West Endicott Fire District - located in Endicott, NY - who will be using their grant towards: fire police public safety vests, incident command public safety vests, hi-vis fire police bomber jackets, traffic baton light green LEDs, LED road flares, collapsible safety cones with LED lights, and a particulate hood.

The purpose of this grant program was to offer up to a $5,000 award to an active Safety Group 497 member that applied for consideration by outlining their organization’s specific equipment and/or training needs as it relates to employee safety. The recipient of this award was to be based on the cumulative factor of the effectiveness of the safety equipment/training being requested as well as the financial need of the organization. 

The Executive Committee received a number of applications, all of which were very well deserving of the safety grant initiative award.

Thank you to the entire group of applicants to this year’s Safety Initiative Grant sponsored by the Safety Group 497 Executive Committee. The goal of Safety Group 497 is to assist all members with reducing workplace accidents and we encourage our members to seek our assistance whenever possible to help make that happen.