WPS Foundation providing $75,000 to enhance community safety through Rewarding Responders Grant

The Wisconsin Public Service (WPS) Foundation is continuing its support of the brave men and women who keep communities safe across the state. The foundation is offering $75,000 to help police, fire and emergency medical services agencies improve public safety. The funding is part of the foundation’s Rewarding Responders Grant program.

Emergency response agencies can apply for a grant through June 15.

Supporting a tireless commitment to safety

The WPS Foundation’s Rewarding Responders Grant helps northeast and north central Wisconsin public safety agencies receive lifesaving equipment or training. Last year, these grants helped 42 agencies receive important safety tools such as automated external defibrillators (AEDs), multigas detectors and emergency scene safety lights.

Since the program began in 2014, the WPS Foundation has awarded more than $500,000 to 202 agencies to help them strengthen public safety. The Green Bay Metro Fire Department is among those agencies, receiving a grant in 2023 to purchase life preserver rings to install along waterways around Green Bay.

“The Green Bay Metro Fire Department is proud of the support from the WPS Foundation that helped us install throwable water rescue life rings in four locations along our waterways,” said Matthew Knott, fire chief — Green Bay Metro Fire Department. “These rings and our ongoing outreach efforts are certainly making our community a safer place.”

Firefighters and a man and woman from the WPS Foundation stand around a table with a sign and small multi-gas detectors sitting on it.

A congratulatory sign displayed next to a red emergency scene light tower inside a fire department garage.

A male firefighter holds an orange life preserver ring on a pier.

A pair of police officers and a woman from the WPS Foundation look at a small aerial drone inside a large room.

Small grey multi-gas detectors sit on top of black boxes next to an ambulance.

Applying for a grant

Emergency response agencies are eligible to receive a grant if they:

Operate in the WPS electric or natural gas service area.
Did not receive a grant in 2023.
Complete an online grant application.
Demonstrate the equipment or training they will acquire is part of a well-planned effort to improve public safety. Grants also can be put toward unique, safety-related projects that are one-time efforts.

Grants of up to $2,000 are available to eligible departments. Learn more about or apply for the grant