Park Ridge and Niles fire departments can each apply for up to $50,000 in state funding for firefighting and ambulance equipment under a grant program now accepting applications.

The Illinois Office of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM) announced on X that it has opened the fiscal year 2027 Small Equipment Grant Program. The grants cover small firefighting and ambulance equipment purchases. Applications are due by 11:59 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 30.

The OSFM's grant page lists several eligibility requirements. Applicants must hold active registrations with both SAM.gov and the state's Grant Accountability and Transparency Act (GATA) portal. Departments must also be current on their National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) and National Emergency Response Information System (NERIS) reporting for the two-year period from October 2024 through September 2026.

The program gives funding priority to what the OSFM classifies as Tier I equipment. Items outside that tier will not be considered until all Tier I requests have been funded. The grant page does not define which equipment falls under Tier I.

Departments must complete two online applications: one through the Euna Grants portal and one through the OSFM's own web portal. Paper applications will not be accepted.

Both departments are eligible.

Neither the Park Ridge Fire Department nor the Niles Fire Department has publicly announced plans to apply for the FY2027 cycle. The grant program has a track record in the area. The North Maine Fire Protection District reported in August that it received a $26,000 Small Equipment Grant from the state, which it used to order new radios.

The Niles Fire Department has also tapped state and federal grant money in recent years. According to the department's 2025 annual report, Niles received a $67,000 FEMA Assistance to Firefighters Grant for a power load cot fastener. The department also received a $65,000 Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity grant for an upgraded station alerting system. In 2025, the Niles department responded to 7,964 calls for service across two stations.

The OSFM is fielding questions through Roger Branson at 217-785-4717 or [email protected].