ROCHESTER — The town of Rochester received over $32,300 in grant funding from Plymouth County that will benefit public safety initiatives.

The $32,382.71 worth of grants will be used to fund a new ambulance power load system for the Rochester Fire Department and an emergency shelter generator for the Town of Rochester.

The funding comes from the American Rescue Plan Act, which is a $1.9 trillion relief package bill enacted by former President Joe Biden in 2021.

In total, Rochester received over $1.9 million in ARPA funds from Plymouth County since 2021.

Previously, funds were spent on public assets like new sets of protective equipment for the Rochester Fire Department, police vehicles for the Rochester Police Department, desktops for the police department and the construction of the Gifford Park Playground.

“All of this is about public safety, and that’s how we’ve used those [funds],” said Town Administrator Cameron Durant.

Plymouth County Commissioner Sandra Wright and Treasurer Thomas O’Brien presented the check at a Rochester Select Board meeting on Monday, Aug. 18.

“Plymouth County is very proud of this program [and] getting the money out to the communities because we know how much it means to you,” said O’Brien.

“We’re so happy that we could be a part of it and giving it to you,” said Wright.

Durant emphasized that Rochester is grateful to receive money for public safety projects.

“[We’re] very appreciative to be able to receive these extra funds. Not every town was able to get this,” he said. “I want to thank Suzanne [Szyndlar], our finance director, for being so prepared in order to take advantage of this opportunity.”