Nassau County Deputy Presiding Officer Richard Nicolello and the Nassau County Legislature approved legislation to provide more than $1.5 million in grant funding to fund the Volunteer Firefighter Recruitment and Retention Scholarship Program. The legislation secures the existence of the program for an additional 5 years.
Developed by the Office of Emergency Management and Funded by the Federal Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant fund, this innovative program is available for full time and part time students entering Nassau Community College. Volunteers under the scholarship program will be eligible to have tuition paid while maintaining their membership as an active member in good standing in one of Nassau County’s volunteer fire companies or fire department EMS providers.
A student/volunteer must maintain volunteer activity and training levels and certain academic objectives during their course of study and must commit to a post-education service obligation of one year for each year of scholarship received.
“We are indebted to our volunteer firefighters and EMS personnel for the vital services they provide to our community,” said Legislator Nicolello. “I am happy to support the SAFER grant program and hope that it will aid the efforts of our local fire departments to attract and retain younger members.”