ALAMOSA — USDA Rural Development Acting State Director Tedd Buelow joined Alamosa City Manager Heather Brooks, Fire Chief Don Chapman and others at the Alamosa Fire Department on May 4 to view new radios purchased for the fire department through a grant from USDA.

The City of Alamosa applied on behalf of the fire department to purchase new digital radio systems. For the last 16 years emergency responders have been switching from analog to the new digital systems. The $10,000 Community Facility (CF) grant from USDA allowed for the purchase of six new systems and will give the department the ability to communicate with each other on a larger scale or for multi-jurisdictional responses.
The CF program provides funding for essential facilities and services such as fire and safety, child care, schools, libraries and health care.

“Ensuring Colorado’s first responders have the proper equipment needed for their safety and the protection of others, is a key priority for USDA,” said Buelow. “The new radios purchased will provide the fire department, often the first responder to a scene, with the most up-to-date communication devices available.”

USDA Rural Development provides loans, loan guarantees and grants to help expand economic opportunities for individuals, towns, nonprofits, tribes and businesses in rural areas. Programs help improve infrastructure; start or expanded businesses; help residents buy homes; fund community facilities such as schools, public safety and health care facilities; and bring high-speed internet access to rural areas.

For more information visit www.rd.usda.gov

Pictured are USDA Rural Development Acting State Director Tedd Buelow, center, makes a ceremonial presentation of a $10,000 Community Facility grant from USDA to Alamosa Fire Chief Don Chapman in front of the fire department’s trucks on May 4. From left are Tineel Baroz, Rural Development; Alamosa City Manager Heather Brooks; Chief Chapman; Buelow; Alamosa City Councilor Liz Thomas Hensley; Alamosa Mayor Josef Lucero; Alamosa City Councilor Charles Griego; Heidi Pacheco, Rural Development; and Alamosa City Councilman Ty Coleman.

Courier photo by Ruth Heide.