Federal COVID-19 recovery funds will pay for a new ambulance and dispatching center for the Ripon Consolidated Fire District.

It is part of a second round of funds for COVID recovery that the San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors approved Tuesday for distribution to various agencies within the county.

It includes $4 million allocated for facility repairs, upgrades, and equipment purchases at eligible Veteran Service Organizations in San Joaquin County.

The reimbursement programs can be accessed by American Legion and Veterans of Foreign War groups in Manteca, Ripon, Tracy and others throughout the county.

“We owe our veterans an ongoing debt of gratitude,” noted Supervisor Robert Rickman. “ I’m proud to have approved funding for our Veteran Service Organizations.  This assistance seems especially fitting as we had the Army’s birthday in June, Air Force in September, the Navy a week from now, and the Marine Corps in November along with Veterans Day.”

 A commitment of $1,230,000 was made to the Ripon Consolidated Fire District to be used for a station dispatch center, ambulance, and supplies. 

American Medical Response will be relocating their current dispatch center from Stanislaus to San Joaquin County next year. 

The Ripon Fire District will house the dispatch center, providing the infrastructure to dispatch San Joaquin County Fire Agencies in the future, regardless of any ambulance contracts with the County.

South San Joaquin County Fire Authority that serves Tracy and surrounding areas  will receive $208,000 to put toward watercraft, equipment, personal protective equipment, and training costs.

The authority will also include $2,599,234 toward Phase 2 South County Fire Training Center.

Another example of the CIVID relief grants the supervisor s approved Tuesday was $68,000 for  the Tracy City Center Association.

It will cover one-time district renewal expenses necessary for a 10-year extension of their  property-based improvement district in Downtown Tracy.  The District’s annual revenues were severely impacted by pandemic restrictions.

Early this year, Rickman and other supervisors began meeting with organizations, first responders, and jurisdictions, working to assess their needs and ensure they had ample opportunity to apply for and compete for an equitable share of these funds.