The City of St. Cloud has earned a historic $9.5 million federal grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security that will allow St. Cloud Fire Rescue to hire 48 new firefighters, marking the largest grant award in the city’s history.
The funding, part of the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grant Program, will help the department meet the growing demand for emergency services as St. Cloud’s population continues to rise. Since 2022, the city’s 9-1-1 call center has averaged more than 100,000 calls for service each year, while the city’s population has climbed to over 70,000 — nearly 20% higher than the last U.S. Census count.
Mayor Chris Robertson emphasized the importance of this milestone for the community…