Commissioners approve SLFRF/ARPA agreements for nonprofits and fire agencies including funding for local training equipment

Knox County commissioners approved agreements on Monday allocating state and local fiscal recovery funds (SLFRF/ARPA) for nonprofit organizations and fire-rescue equipment based on committee recommendations.

Jenny Holden, representing Knox County Grants and Community Development, said the county's nonprofit grant program from its ARPA plan includes $2.5 million for nonprofit relief and recovery. On Monday commissioners moved forward agreements that included YWCA ($250,000), Central Hispano/East Tennessee ($100,000), and SEED Inc. ($150,000). Holden explained that the awards respond to documented negative economic impacts those organizations faced during the pandemic and fit the county’s approved ARPA plan.

The commission also approved recommendations from the fire and technical rescue committee for capital assistance to county fire districts. Chief Darren Long of Karnes Fire Department described the project scope and the rationale for a multi-story masonry training tower and associated live-fire burn training capacity. Commissioners discussed regional cooperation and insurance/subrogation constraints: Long said existing city training facilities offered some options, but interlocal insurance/attorney constraints limit the ability of some rural departments to train in city facilities.

Commissioner Daley provided a fiscal breakdown from the committee: Rural Metro — $970,000; Karnes — $420,000; Seymour — $350,000; KCR — $70,000; and a fire-safety trailer/sprinkler system — $65,000, for a committee total of roughly $1.87 million from the available allocation. Holden confirmed the county will own certain equipment purchased through the program (for example engines), but not necessarily the buildings that local departments may construct. The commission moved the items forward by voice vote.

What’s next: Contract and procurement steps will follow county procedures; additional SLFRF agreements from the fire committee will come to the commission for approval in the coming months.