UPPER TWP., NJ — Upper Township has received a $2,282.09 grant from New Jersey American Water through the company's 2026 Volunteer Fire and EMS Grant Program. The township plans to use the funding to purchase four Motorola Monitor 7 Voice Pagers, along with extended warranties and programming for the units.
According to the announcement, the pagers are intended to help first responders receive emergency notifications and communications more effectively. Upper Township was one of 21 volunteer fire and EMS departments across New Jersey American Water's service areas to receive funding this year. In total, the company awarded about $50,000 through the 2026 program.
"Local first responders understand which tools and resources will have the greatest impact in the communities they serve," said Kim Schalek Downes, Vice President of Business Development, Government and External Affairs. "Through this program, we're proud to help departments make those important investments year after year."
The company said this year's grants are supporting a range of projects among participating departments. Those purchases include gas leak detectors, gas meters, defibrillators, thermal imaging cameras and other equipment used in emergency response.
The program has been running since 2011. Since then, New Jersey American Water has awarded 353 grants totaling more than $587,500 to 176 local volunteer fire departments and emergency response units in its service areas, according to the announcement.
More information about the Volunteer Fire and EMS Grant Program is available through New Jersey American Water at www.newjerseyamwater.com/community.
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