Acushnet receives grant from Commonwealth of Massachusetts for purchase of PPE, disinfecting equipment and supplies

“The Town of Acushnet has received a grant totaling $32,000 from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for the purchase of Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) and disinfecting equipment and supplies. Funding for this grant was made possible through $4,000,000 the state received in federal Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental Funding. The goal of the program is to provide funds to the local level to prevent prepare for and respond to the Coronavirus.

The grant program allowed municipalities to apply for funds for their Police and/or Fire Departments. Acushnet officials chose to seek funds for the benefit of both departments.

“From day one of this pandemic all Acushnet departments have worked as a team. This is how we have been able to meet the ever changing challenges we wake up to every morning,” stated Acushnet Fire & EMS Chief Kevin A. Gallagher.

Working as a team, Chief Gallagher, Police Chief Christopher Richmond and Town Administrator Julie Hebert identified current and future needs of the public safety departments. The grant will be used to purchase equipment including machines that test the fit of masks worn by first responders to additional disinfecting sprayers. Disposable items such as disinfecting wipes, spray and hand sanitizer will be stockpiled for future use.

“We looked at both the present and projected needs of our department,” said Police Chief Richmond. “The present crisis is not going away anytime soon. This grant will give us a leg up on what the future may bring.”

State Representative Christopher Hendricks added, ‘Great work by Acushnet leadership to ensure that our community gets its’ share of federal relief funding while we fight Covid-19.’”