South Asheville News

U.S. Congressman Chuck Edwards (NC-11) has announced that his district office will be hosting grant seminars for fire departments in North Carolina's 11th district. The goal of these seminars is to provide more accessibility, education, and guidance for fire departments in Western North Carolina in preparing and writing grants.

Edwards emphasized the importance of grant funding for the fire departments and firefighters in his district. He stated, "Grant funding is critical to providing NC-11's fire departments and firefighters with the financial support they need for their equipment, training, facilities maintenance, and community outreach." Edwards recognizes the sacrifices made by the firefighters and believes that these workshops will equip them with the necessary tools and resources to carry out their responsibilities safely and effectively.

The grant seminars will be conducted both virtually and in-person. The virtual seminar is scheduled for February 15 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. Interested participants can join the Zoom meeting by clicking [here]. For those who prefer an in-person experience, there will be two seminars held on March 6 and 13.

The March 6 seminar will take place at the A-B Tech classroom at Fire Academy, located at 24 Canoe Rd., Woodfin, NC, from 6:00-8:00 p.m. On March 13, the seminar will be held at 45 East Ridge Dr., Bryson City, NC, also from 6:00-8:00 p.m. The March 13 seminar will have a special guest, David Sawyer, a Bryson City community member, volunteer fireman, and attorney, who will be hosting the event.

Among the participants in the grant workshops will be Brian Taylor, the state fire marshal, Brent Heath, the director of government affairs at the Office of State Fire Marshal (OSFM), Shannon Bullock, the director of public affairs at OSFM, and a representative of the U.S. Department of Agriculture for western North Carolina.

It is important to note that members of the public and media are invited to attend these seminars. This is an opportunity for the community to learn more about the grant process and support their local fire departments.

The seminars hosted by Congressman Edwards aim to empower fire departments in Western North Carolina by providing them with the knowledge and resources to secure vital grant funding. With the support and collaboration of government officials and community members, these fire departments will be better equipped to serve and protect their communities.