(Des Moines)– The state has awarded 4.3 million dollars for the design and construction of 11 regional emergency response training centers.
Governor Vilsack says public safety has been a priority for his administration and that the funding is another step toward keeping Iowans secure.
The money was part of a bill approved by the legislature last spring. Vilsack signed it into law May 31st.
Under the terms of the bill, community colleges are designated as “lead public agencies” and that “partner agencies” will participate with “lead agencies” to build and operate the centers.
As a condition for receiving the funding, the training centers must agree to certain requirements, including one to teach courses approved by the Department of Public Safety’s Fire Service Training Bureau.
Included in the funding was four million dollars for the lead agencies and their partners and 300-thousand dollars that was made available on a competitive basis.
Locally, Iowa Lakes Community College was awarded 400-thousand dollars through the program.
(Info. from the Associated Press).
