Board recommends $24,000 to fund advanced EMT course for Kane County providers

Ben Arp, the hospital's EMS director, asked the Kane County Economic Development Board on Oct. 27 for a favorable recommendation to the county commission to cover tuition for eight advanced EMT students.

"Our ask of this board is a favorable recommendation to the county commission for funding in the amount of $24,000 to cover the tuition expense for the students," Arp said, describing a $3,000 tuition per student plus about $400–$500 for textbooks and materials.

The board heard that rural EMS systems face long‑standing recruitment and retention challenges. Arp said local training creates a pipeline: the hospital ran an EMT basic class last year with roughly 22 students and several who moved on to licensure, and the current AEMT course has eight students enrolled. He told members many of those students are established local residents and employed by local departments or fire services.

Board members asked whether the higher certification would translate into higher local pay and whether trainees would be likely to remain in county service. Arp said some students are already city or fire employees and that local departments would likely provide incentives; he also said the hospital had purchased textbooks and that Intermountain Medical Direction had agreed to start the course while funding sources were finalized.

Members discussed alternate funding avenues — including whether the hospital could pursue FEMA or other grants — and the possibility of requiring a time commitment from trainees. Arp said FEMA AFG grants were not applicable to the hospital and that he would consider student commitment agreements while noting they can be hard to enforce but may increase retention.

A motion to fund the advanced emergency medical care technician (AEMT) training for $24,000 passed; the board recorded the vote as a favorable recommendation that will be forwarded to the county commission for final approval.