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Cumberland officials highlight grants, new equipment and volunteer efforts in fire and EMS update
Summary
County staff reported multiple grant awards and pending applications to support fire, EMS and public utilities, recognized an employee of the month and announced the county animal shelter earned a no‑kill designation from Best Friends Network.
County staff highlighted recent grant awards, equipment purchases and volunteer recruitment efforts during the July 8 meeting of the Cumberland County Board of Supervisors.
County leadership recognized Darren Hurley as employee of the month; Hurley, who serves as the county’s emergency services coordinator, addressed the board with an update on fire and EMS statistics and several grant efforts. “I’m very humbled to be chosen for the employee [of the month] for July,” Hurley said.
Administrators told the board the county does not have a dedicated grant writer but in FY25 departments collectively applied for more than $3 million in grants and were awarded approximately $1,458,000. Enumerated awards and pending applications cited in staff remarks included an apron grant of nearly $50,000 to support grocery store efforts; roughly $252,000 toward a new ambulance; and $400,000 from the National Fish and Wildlife Service to the public utilities department. Staff also described smaller awards: a roughly $3,000 equipment grant, and several pending applications including a $150,000 communications/dispatch (VEIL) opportunity, a hazardous‑materials (chemtrack) grant, and a $100,000 personal protective equipment request through the Virginia Department of Fire Programs.
Hurley described several operational initiatives: the county is evaluating quick‑response vehicles (repurposed SUVs) to improve response times in remote districts when ambulances are not immediately available; Cartersville volunteers are installing a donor‑funded helicopter landing pad with lighting; volunteers are being recruited to revitalize the rescue squad building and support quick‑response staffing; and the county is pursuing tower foundation permitting for a 100‑foot communications tower to link with the state police radio system. Staff also reported the county pharmacy is operating and that two Knox Boxes have been installed to give emergency crews rapid access at select facilities.
Separately, the county announced its animal shelter achieved a 94% save rate and received recognition from the Best Friends Network as a no‑kill shelter — an accomplishment staff described as notable for a smaller rural locality.
Staff said many grant proposals remain pending; awards and program outcomes will be reported back to the board as grants are finalized.
