Newport Receives $738K Grant To Train Firefighters In Paramedic Care

NEWPORT, RI — Newport this month was awarded a federal grant worth close to $739,000 to pay for paramedic training for at least 15 firefighters.

The $738,881.31 Assistance to Firefighters Grant came from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and pays for the paramedic level of prehospital emergency medical care licensing course.

The grant, which was secured through the efforts of Newport Fire Department staff with the support of U.S. Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI), and Rhode Island’s congressional delegation, stipulates that $671,710.28 will be provided by FEMA, with a $67,171.03 match provided by Newport.

City officials said the funds will pay for the cost of training and compensating the 15 participating firefighters for the nearly 1,300 hours each of combined classroom and clinical observation training time that is required to achieve a paramedic level licensing.

City officials said the grant will nearly double the department's number of licensed paramedics.

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