Champaign, Urbana and Savoy fire departments among 122 receiving Illinois American Water grants

CHAMPAIGN - The fire departments of Champaign, Urbana and Savoy are among 122 Illinois fire departments and districts awarded grants this year through Illinois American Water's Firefighter Grant Program, the utility said in an Oct. 28 release. The 122 awards total more than $121,000.

The release does not say how much each department will receive or what each will buy. Illinois American Water says the application-based program pays for protective gear, communications equipment, firefighting tools, water-handling equipment, training materials and community education.

The utility says the program has provided nearly 1,300 grants totaling more than $1.25 million over the last 16 years to fire and emergency organizations serving customers in its service area. The awards were announced in connection with National First Responders Day.

Source: Illinois American Water release, Oct. 28, 2026 (read Oct. 29, 2026).