More than $184,000 in state gaming revenue will benefit 16 area first response organizations in the 187th Legislative District to better help residents of their communities, state Rep. Gary Day, R-187th, announced.

Fire and EMS companies in the Lehigh County portion of the 187th District to receive grant funding include:Cetronia Ambulance Corps Inc., $6,651; Cetronia Fire Company No. 1, $13,116; Fogelsville Volunteer Fire Company, $12,469; Laurys Station Volunteer Fire Company, $12,631; Lynnport Community Fire Company No. 1, $11,661; Neffs Volunteer Fire Company, $12,631; Northern Valley Emergency Medical Services Inc., $6,651; Northwestern Ambulance Corps, $6,651 and Tri Clover Fire Company, $11,984.

Fire and EMS companies in the Berks County portion of the 187th District to receive grant funding include:Fleetwood Volunteer Fire Company No. 1, $13,116 for fire services and $6,651 for EMS operations; Kempton Fire Company Inc., $13,116; Kutztown Volunteer Fire Department, $13,112; Lyons Volunteer Fire Company No. 1, $12,307; Topton Ambulance SVS, $6, 651; Topton Volunteer Fire Company, $12,929 and Walnuttown Fire Company No. 1, $12,146.

"Our volunteer fire and emergency medical service operations spent a lot of their time making sure that they are able to assist us at our time of need," Day said. "This grant program, which has been providing financial assistance to volunteer companies for more than a decade, offers quite a bit of flexibility so that each company can use the funds in the way that best meets their community's needs."

The grant program is administered by the Pennsylvania Office of Fire Commissioner within the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency and allows local organizations to use the money for construction or renovation of a fire company or ambulance service's primary structure; purchase or repair of firefighting, ambulance or rescue equipment; training; or debt reduction.

Under legislation last year that both extended and expanded the program, up to $30 million in grants is available to annually assist both volunteer and some paid municipal fire companies.

The grant program is funded with proceeds from the state's gaming industry.