You asked if there are any state, federal, or private funds available for a mutual aid society in Mansfield to purchase a dive truck.

SUMMARY

There is no universal accepted definition of a "dive truck". We understand a dive truck to be a vehicle that transports diving equipment, apparatus, air compressors, or other underwater search and rescue gear. According to state police Master Sergeant Daniel Lewis, most public safety departments reconfigure used vans, trucks, or ambulances to suit their departments' need for dive trucks.

We found no specific funding source for dive trucks. But some state funding may be available under the state's urban grants program, and federal funding may be available under Community Facilities Loans and Grants Program. And some private funding may be available through community foundation services. None of these programs specifically mention dive trucks, but they authorize funds for community-related needs, including public safety equipment purchases.

STATE FUNDING

According to the Office of Fiscal Analysis (OFA), the state does not make any specific appropriations or bond authorizations for buying dive trucks. But some funding may be available under the urban grants program administered by the Office of Policy and Management (OPM). This program provides bond funds for various projects, as determined by the governor. These grants have been used to purchase fire-related items, such as thermal imaging cameras for Southington.

FEDERAL FUNDING

A source of federal funding for dive trucks might be Community Facilities Loans and Grants administered by the U. S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Development office. These funds are for constructing, enlarging, extending, or otherwise improving community facilities to rural residents, including fire and rescue services. Although Mansfield is not eligible for grants from this program, it may be eligible for loans. (The number for the Connecticut office that disburses these funds is (860) 688-7979 extension 4.)

PRIVATE FUNDING

We found no private funding specifically for dive trucks. Some foundations that provide community funding might consider a funding request for dive trucks appropriate. Twelve community foundation services in Connecticut provide grants to select communities based on geographic and eligibility requirements (Attachment 1).

Attachment 1: Community Foundation Services-Council on Foundations

CONNECTICUT

Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation

P.O. Box 569

Salisbury, CT 06068

Phone: 800/969-2823 or 860/435-2483

Fax: 413/528-8158

E-mail: btcf@bcn.net

General Information: Maeve O'Dea, Program Coordinator

Donor Services: Virgil Stucker, President

Grants Information: Maeve O'Dea, Program Coordinator

The Greater Bridgeport Area Foundation

280 State Street

Bridgeport, CT 06604

Phone: 203/334-7511

Fax: 203/333-4652

Richard F. Freeman, President/CEO

Eastern Connecticut Community Foundation

P.O. Box 303 (257 Main Street)

Norwich, CT 06360

Phone: 860/887-3303

Fax: 860/887-3303

Joy S. Leary, Executive Director

Fairfield County Foundation, Inc.

40 Richards Avenue

Norwalk, CT 06854

Phone: 203/834-9393

Fax: 203/834-9996

General Information: Susan M. Ross, President/CEO

Donor Service: Susan M. Ross/Charles W. Norman

Grants Information: Joline Wruck

Hartford Foundation for Public Giving

85 Gillett Street

Hartford, CT 06105

Phone: 860/548-1888

Fax: 860/524-8346

E-mail: hfpg2@hfpg.org Web site: http://www.hfpg.org

Michael R. Bangser, Executive Director

Donor Services: Sandra N. Wood

Grants Information: Christopher H. Hall

Main Street Community Foundation

P.O. Box 2702

Bristol, CT 06111-2702

Phone: 860/583-6363

Fax: 860/589-1252

Cheryl Dumont-Smith, Executive Director

The Meriden Foundation

C/O Webster Trust Meriden Trust Dept.

P.O. Box 951

Meriden, CT 06450-0951

Phone: 203/235-4456

Fax: 203/639-6530

Jeffery F. Otis, Director and Secretary

New Britain Foundation for Public Giving

29 Russell Street

New Britain, CT 06052

Phone: 860/229-6018

Fax: 860/229-2641

E-mail: nbf@nbfoundation.org

Mary-Ellen Powell, Executive Director

Susan A. Rathgeber, donor Services

Joline S. Wruck, Grants Information

New Canaan Community Foundation, Inc.

P.O. Box 1285

New Canaan, CT 06840

Arthur G. Potts, Jr., President

The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven

70 Audubon Street

New Haven, CT 06510

Phone: 203/777-2386

Fax: 203/787-6584

Nancy L. Hadley, Executive Director

Information: Dotty Weston-Murphy

The Community Foundation of Southeastern Connecticut

One Union Plaza

P.O. Box 769

New London, CT 06320

Phone: 860/442-3572

Fax: 860/442-0584

Alice Fitzpatrick, Executive Director

The Waterbury Foundation

156 West Main Street

Waterbury, CT 06702-1216

Phone: 203/753-1315

Fax: 203/756-3054

E-mail: wtbyfoundation@snet.net

Ingrid Manning, Director

Nancy Cote Sullivan, Public Relations and Development Officer

Carol O'Donnell, Program Officer

Source: http://intl.cof.org/community/cflist.html

printed 05/01/2000

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