Funding for Public Safety Building

[aubfire64]

I am looking for funding for to build a new Fire Station / Public Safety building in Maine.

Community has population of 23,000.

Does anyone have any grant info for study,design or building of a new station?

Thank You,

[firebill911]

well we were lucky to have the worlds largest producing lumber stud world on hte world and there foundation (Ford Family Foundation) provided a good amount of portion and the the mill itself donated I think 75% of the lumber to build it. Start with finding a architec to help you design a station that has experience and he/she would be able to help you with estimates and such. Also look at USDA rural gov. loans. You have to pay it back but it is a chaep loan. Look for local foundations/grants. It's not easy and it is more work than you will imagine. Good luck and keep us posted.

[firebill911]

One more thing, my district who has a good budget and tax base started saving a chunk of money over a decade ago just for a station fund. It depends on your situation. It my districts case when we diseigned a building and went out to bid, we still had to take a USDA rural dev. loan and the payment was the same as the yearly amount we had been saving all along, so essentially it was a wash, oh and make sure you have a contigency fund. For example when the contractor was excavating for the new station they happen to come across a old in the ground fuel tank and had to hire a environmental clean up company to clean it all up, So before any bulding took place we had to cough up i think about $10K.

[aubfire64]

All great info.

Keep it coming!!

[ktb9780]

All great info.

Keep it coming!!

aubfire64, you are not by any chance in Auburndale, Fl are you?

[LVFD301]

I think he said he was in Maine

[ktb9780]

I think he said he was in Maine

Yep, right you are. Since I am in Auburndale I just guessed without reading the whole post closely. Guess I need more Starbucks today. Thanks for answering that for me.

[Limeforever]

May also want to look at a CDBG grant, we are working on it for our new station.

[BC79er_OLDDELETE]

Probably won't qualify for Rural, population is 23k. USDA limit is 20k. HUD is probably the lone possibility in the federal realm.

[sfd7101]

We got a very low interest loan when we bought a truck in 2002. I am almost positive it was less than 5% rate. Right here in Maine.

[islandfire03]

I would guess by the name & population that he is talking about Auburn Maine.

For design and architecture costs you might try the Libra Foundation in Portland Me. It was founded by the late Elizabeth Noyce, a wonderfully generous lady in supporting the State of Maine. They probably won't give money for the actual construction cost, but it might not hurt to ask. {http://www.librafoundation.org/ } They usually fund non profit organizations but you might get their attention for some assistance.

You can also talk to Chief Labbee in Brunswick as they just built a new station at Cooks corner a couple of years ago. Very nice functional design and excellent working layout. He could probably give some recent information on the process here in Maine.

[aubfire64]

I appreciate all of the input I am following up on these suggestions.

Aubfire