Grant To Help Stock Fentress Ambulances After JRMC Closure

A new grant opportunity will help Fentress County deal with the closure of Jamestown Regional Medical Center (JRMC).

County Executive Jimmy Johnson said the Hospital Closure of Assistance grant will provide $50,000 to ambulance services.

“[It will] help with the transportation of patients, it will go towards a couple of CPR machines to work with, and then some supplies,” Johnson said. “Also, we are going to purchase 15 AEDs to put into patrol cars. Since our hospital is closed at this time, so the deputies will be trained in AED operations also.”

JRMC temporarily closed on June 13. Johnson said the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development (ECD) informed the county of the grant opportunity.

“It was actually for hospital closings and at the time, ours had not officially closed when ECD notified us,” Johnson said. “And said they had some money that could possibly be available and it would go directly to the ambulance service.”

Johnson said the funding requires a five-percent match from the county at approximately $2,500.

“It will help put some stock into the emergency services, the ambulance,” Johnson said. “And it will just be a great help by purchasing equipment for safety precautions.”

Fentress County was approved for funding by the state Tuesday after commissioners voted to apply for the grant Monday.