(MINEOLA, N.Y.) – Nassau County Legislature Minority Leader Delia DeRiggi-Whitton (D – Glen Cove) applauded the approval of an additional $1.5 million American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant for the County’s Vocational and Education and Extension Board (VEEB) in support of their vital public safety operations.
Approved unanimously by the Legislature’s Rules committee on Monday, Dec. 9, officials said the funds will be applied toward the operations of the Fire Academy operated within VEEB that provides OSHA and New York State-required training for firefighters and EMTs within Nassau County’s 71 volunteer fire departments and five volunteer ambulance agencies.
Paired with the initial $500,000 grant that was awarded in August of 2022, the County has now committed a total of $2 million toward offsetting the negative economic impacts that VEEB experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Across Nassau County, our volunteer firefighters and EMTs do such a tremendous job in serving our communities, and they demonstrate great courage as they rush toward danger to respond to emergencies,” Minority Leader DeRiggi-Whitton said. “These ARPA funds will contribute greatly toward equipping VEEB to continue doing their outstanding work and ensuring that these selfless volunteers receive the best training possible. I was proud to vote in favor of this grant and am grateful that it received the unanimous support of my colleagues.”