Protivin Fire Department to host Open House on Oct. 8

PROTIVIN - The main street of Protivin looks a little different today, than it did two years ago. Where once there was a vacant lot, now stands a new fire station––a physical representation of what can be achieved with the donations of generous supporters, hard work, and community pride. 

The new fire station took three years to plan and a year to build. Today the station is ready for visitors for an Open House to take place on Sunday, Oct. 8 from 12 noon to 4 p.m. 

“The firefighters of the Protivin Volunteer Fire Department (PVFD) are very grateful to the individuals, businesses, and others who provided financial support, in kind donations of labor and supplies, and hard work to make the new station a reality,” noted officials upon the completion of the building this past summer.

The trucks and other equipment moved into the station this past March, while finishing touches were completed, and the PVFD was completely moved in by Czech Days this past month. 

The new fire station project cost $800,000, which included needed interior items such as gear lockers, hose racks, and completing the kitchen/meeting room. Initially, funding came from the four government entities that make up the Protivin Community Fire District, each contributed $80,000 for a total of $320,000 in tax-payer funds to start the project.  

The remaining $680,000 of the needed funds came from donations and grants. The PVFD donated $80,000 from previous fund-raising efforts. The PVFD members then reached out for the remaining needs. 

Local citizens and businesses provided fantastic support and came together donating $170,000 to help build and outfit the new fire station. In addition, $130,000 was received in grants written for by PVFD members and awarded from banks, the Community Foundation Grants, and other local and regional institutions. 

The fire district also applied for a–then new–federal program through Iowa Congresswoman Rep. Ashley Hinson (R-IA-02). Rep. Hinson picked the fire station as one of her first congressional funding projects, and secured a $100,000 grant from USDA Rural Development for the station as part of the federal FY 2022 budget. Thanks to local generosity and outside funding sources, the remaining financial need was secured to complete the station. 

Members of the fire department also donated hundreds of hours in addition to their normal trainings and service to help make the fire station a reality. 

Members of the PVFD helped design and construct the station, wrote grants for funding, ensured all state and federal paperwork was completed, moved years of collected equipment from one station to the other, and assisted in many other ways to cut costs and help get the station constructed quickly.