The Fire Services Committee of the Warren County Council of Governments has received another $10,000 donation for a internet/intranet project designed to enhance communication among the county's fire departments and with the community at large.
The Jefferson DeFrees Foundation has donated an additional $10,000, on top of a donation made last year for the same amount.
The committee will also be approaching the Community Foundation of Warren County, which donated $10,000 to the project last year, for a second round of funding.
If successful on a $30,000 Pa. Municipal Assistance Program grant application, the initial stage of the project would be completely funded.
Committee Chairman Paul Pascuzzi said they are working on a contract with Insight Technologies, which has been selected to design and build the site. He explained that the contract will need to be reviewed by the Warren County Commissioners because the project will utilize both public and private foundation monies.
Pascuzzi explained that the contract will be "set up in a phase approach, knowing we can only do what we have money for. We're not going to put ourselves on a limb for what we don't have money for."
"We've had tremendous community support," PA Futures Alan Kugler, the COG's consultant, said. "We think if we can strengthen the volunteer departments, it will help the City of Warren," the only full-time paid fire department in the county.
Pascuzzi said additional agencies could benefit from this project. He asked for suggestions from the county public safety department.
"We know if it is built as infrastructure for fire services and emergency services, (it) will only be as successful as the input put into it," he said. "The health of our community is important. Those who provide that service are important."