Insurance Services Office Inc. said it will use its fire district evaluation program to channel federal loan and grant program information to small, economically depressed communities.
Jersey City, N.J.-based ISO, said the effort is a joint program with the United States Department of Agriculture/Rural Development, and community loan and grant programs involved are available through USDA/Rural Development and the Rural Housing Service.
Under the programs, said ISO, communities can obtain funds that may be used to improve municipal public safety systems. Grant funds are awarded to economically feasible projects in financially needy communities with populations of fewer than 20,000 people.
ISO said it has established a working relationship with USDA/Rural Development to deliver information on the Community Loan and Grant Programs to the 45,500 fire-protection districts within the United States as part of the company's Public Protection Classification program.
ISO evaluates each community's fire-protection system according to a uniform set of criteria, incorporating nationally recognized standards developed by the American Water Works Association and the National Fire Protection Association. Insurance carriers can use this information in determining insurance premiums for a property in the rated community.
"We are including information about USDA's grant fund program in all of our direct communications with community fire officials," said Patrick McLaughlin, senior vice president of ISO.
He added, "We're very pleased to be working with USDA on this effort. Many communities may qualify for these funds and use them to improve the fire-protection and rescue services they offer their citizens. Improved facilities or equipment — including expanding the water services available for firefighting in a community — may improve their PPC rating, as well," he added.
Thomas Dorr, under-secretary for USDA/Rural Development called the arrangement, "a win-win for both organizations. Increasing fire-protection and rescue services benefits communities, and through ISO, we can make sure that communities are recognized for making improvements that may change and/or improve their Public Protection Classification."
USDA/Rural Development loan funds may be used to construct, enlarge or improve public safety facilities, such as fire stations and buildings to house fire and/or rescue equipment. Funds may also be used to purchase fire trucks, ambulances, or emergency communications equipment; to buy or build fire and rescue multiservice centers; and to pay necessary costs connected with those facilities, ISO noted.
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