Columbus, OH (CRAWFORD COUNTY NOW) – Columbia Gas of Ohio has announced that 13 Ohio organizations have been selected to benefit from the inaugural Public Safety Grant program, funded by the NiSource Charitable Foundation, enabling them to further their public safety initiatives, training, and education work. These 13 initiatives are geared toward community and youth public safety education and will provide training for first responders and police and fire departments.
“Safety is our No. 1 priority at Columbia, and keeping our customers and communities safe requires participation from everyone,” said Columbia Gas of Ohio President and COO Bob Heidorn. “We are proud to support the safety-focused work of these 13 organizations through the Public Safety Grant, which will help organizations across Ohio reduce safety incidents and promote safety education across the state.”
The 2025 Public Safety Grant provided grants ranging from $500 to $5,000 to each of the following organizations for the listed initiatives:
· Clarington Volunteer Fire Department: EMT-B Certification Training
· Crawford County Special Response Team Association Inc.: Special Response Team Hostage Rescue Training
· Fairfield County Fire Chiefs Association: County-wide Diver Certification Training
· Fostoria Firefighters Community Charity Association: Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors Program
· Jefferson Township Fire Department: Fire Prevention Education for School-age Students
· Law Enforcement Foundation: Police Executive Leadership and Management Training Series
· Lindsey Volunteer Fire Department: Virtual Reality Training Program
· North Ridgeville Firefighters Community Fund: Fire Safety Education and Safety Town
· Perrysburg Township Volunteer Fire Department Foundation: Basic Home Fire Safety Supplies and Education Program
· Rayland Volunteer Fire Department: Fire Safety Week Program
· Red Helmet Christmas Charities: Air Monitoring Training Course
· Richmond Volunteer Fire and Rescue Company: EMT-A and EMT-B Certification Training
· Westlake Town Criers: National Night Out – Crocker Bark 3-mile and 1-mile Run/Walk
“This grant has a simple goal: to bolster safety training and education in our state,” said Community Engagement Manager Stephanie Merkle. “These deserving organizations share Columbia’s commitment to safety, and we look forward to seeing the impact they will make, thanks in part to the inaugural Public Safety Grant.”
Information about the Public Safety Grant is shared throughout Columbia Gas of Ohio’s 61-county service area. Recipients are selected after careful review by a selection committee comprised of Columbia employees. The committee reviewed all applications based on a set of criteria. Columbia Gas of Ohio’s goal for the Public Safety Grant is to support safety initiatives and organizations that are working to improve safety throughout our service territory. For more information about the 2025 Public Safety Grant, visit www.columbiagasohio.com/our-company/about-us/columbia-cares/public-safety-grant.