Missouri American Water awarded nearly $50,000 to 48 fire departments, including six in southwest Missouri, for PPE, communications equipment, tools and training

The Joplin Globe

JOPLIN, Mo. — Six Southwest Missouri fire departments are among 48 in Missouri that will share in nearly $50,000 in grants provided through Missouri American Water’s Firefighter Grant Program.

Grants are available to uniformed professional and volunteer fire departments serving communities in the company’s designated service territories. The maximum grant amount is $1,000. Grant applications should indicate a need for funds to cover costs for personal protective gear, communications equipment, firefighting tools, water handling equipment and training activities and materials.

| READ NEXT: Congratulations, you won a grant! Now try not to give it back.

“As a water provider, we recognize the important connection between reliable water infrastructure and effective fire protection. Our Firefighter Grant Program is one more way we support the local departments that help keep our communities safe, helping to ensure they have access to resources that strengthen emergency preparedness and response,” Rich Svindland, president of Missouri American Water, said in a statement.

The recipients in Southwest Missouri include:

• Joplin Fire Department
• Duenweg Volunteer Fire Department
• Redings Mill Fire Protection District
• Seneca Area Fire Protection District
• Jasper County Emergency Services
• Neosho Fire Department

“Our portable radios were purchased in 2018, and the batteries are beginning to reach the end of their lifespan,” Neosho Fire Chief Aaron Houk said in the statement provided by Missouri American. “This grant will help us replace six batteries and maintain reliable communications for our firefighters on scenes until we can budget for additional replacements.”

According to Missouri American, approximately 380 grants have been awarded since the program began in 2016.

Missouri American, a subsidiary of American Water, provides water and wastewater services to approximately 1.7 million people in the state, including Joplin and Neosho.

What you need to know (and do) now to be ready for the next grant cycle

© 2026 The Joplin Globe (Joplin, Mo.).
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