Delaware General Assembly passes $71.9M Grants-In-Aid legislation 

The Delaware Senate on Friday sent a $71.9 million grant package to Governor John Carney  that will help to bolster fire companies, ambulance services, senior centers, veterans organizations and other community groups that provide invaluable services to Delaware residents. 

Developed by the Joint Finance Committee, the annual Grants-In-Aid legislation allocates funding to dozens of nonprofits across the state that are engaged in everything from treatment for substance-use disorder and behavioral health counseling to arts programming, historic preservation, and emergency services. 

“This legislation will provide much-needed support to our nonprofit community and do a lot of good for a lot of people,” JFC Vice Chair Sen. Trey Paradee said. “From homeless shelters to community arts organizations, these groups provide critical services to some of our most vulnerable neighbors and give us an unbelievable return on our investment. I’m especially grateful to my colleagues in the Joint Finance Committee for allocating significant funding increases for our fire departments, senior centers and veterans organizations.” 

HOUSE BILL 197 – GRANT IN AID BILL	Currrent Status – House Passed 41-0. Senate Passed 21-0. Signed by the Governor.
House Sponsors – Carson, Bolden, Griffith, Williams // Briggs King, Hensley	Senate Sponsors – Paradee, Brown, Hansen // Buckson, Lawson
House Yes Votes – Baumbach Bolden Bush Carson Chukwuocha Cooke Dorsey-Walker Griffith Harris Heffernan Johnson Lambert Longhurst Lynn Matthews Minor-Brown Moore Morrison Neal Osienski Parker-Selby Phillips Romer Schwartzkopf Williams Wilson-Anton // Briggs King Collins Dukes Gray Hensley Hilovsky Morris Postles Ramone Short Shupe Smith Spiegelman Vanderwende Yearick	Senate Yes Votes – Brown Gay Hansen Hoffner Huxtable Lockman Mantzavinos McBride Paradee Pinkney Poore Sokola Sturgeon Townsend Walsh // Buckson Hocker Lawson Pettyjohn Richardon Wilson
House No Votes – None	Senate No Votes – None
House Absents or Not Voting – None	Senate Absent or Not Voting – None

House Bill 197, the Fiscal Year grant package, includes funding for 18 new nonprofit agencies and community organizations that were not included in last year’s legislation. 

“The Grants-in-Aid bill provides much-needed funds to our volunteer fire companies, senior centers and nonprofit organizations that offer vital services to residents up and down the state,” JFC Chair Rep. William Carson said. “These organizations and groups fill a huge need in Delaware. Without them, seniors, veterans, and people in need would have fewer options available to them for various services. I’m glad we were able to provide these organizations with additional funds this year to assist them with their missions.” 

Notable items in the FY 2024 Grants-In-Aid bill includes: 

• $22.7 million for organizations that provide benefit to Delawareans in the areas of health, substance-use disorder treatment, the arts, tourism and community services, a 10% increase over last year; 
• $16 million for ongoing paramedic operations in all three counties, plus an additional $1 million for each county to improve or enhance paramedic options; 
• $10 million in statewide support for fire and ambulance companies to ensure maintenance and operation of trucks, ambulances, and rescue boats, a 20% increase above last year; 
• $9.9 million for services and programs at senior centers; 
• $3.9 million for the county seats Wilmington, Dover and Georgetown; 
• $3.2 million in $50,000 allocations to each fire company and public service ambulance company; 
• $608,000 for veterans organizations in all three counties, a 20% increase over last year.