HomeMy WebLinkAbout07.14.23 Attachment2Grant Program to Increase Diversity in Fire and EMS
Oshkosh Fire Department, Firefighter ABC’s, and Fox Valley Technical College Foundation
collaborate on a new program
(Oshkosh, WI) -- The Oshkosh Fire Department, Firefighter ABC’s, and the Fox Valley Technical
College Foundation are partnering to create a grant program to help remove obstacles for
underrepresented groups to pursue careers in firefighting and emergency medical services.
This collaboration was enabled by a generous donation from a private organization. The goal of
this partnership is to help prepare qualified candidates to enter the field while increasing the
diversity within the profession.
“Something that we are striving for is to have our department be reflective of our community
members,” says Michael Stanley, fire chief of Oshkosh Fire Department. “By being able to help
supplement funding for tuition to women and other typically underrepresented groups we
hope to help remove a potential obstacle that may limit someone’s potential to pursue their
dreams and goals of joining the fire department.”
The National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) reported that in 2020 only 9% of firefighters in the
United States were female. Nationally, the most common ethnicity for firefighters is white,
accounting for 76.8%. Firefighter ABC’s has been an industry leader in creating a focused effort
to improve representation for all social segments and formed the Firefighter Diversity
Recruitment Council which the Oshkosh Fire Department is a member of.
The Oshkosh Fire Department, Firefighter ABC’s, and the Fox Valley Technical College
Foundation are very pleased to partner on this and look forward to the success of the program.
For more information on this program please contact Fire Chief Mike Stanley at
mstanley@ci.oshkosh.wi.us or 920-236-5240. For those interested in applying for the grant
please visit the Oshkosh Fire Department’s website at www.oshkoshfd.com.