Stanley Black & Decker Inc. Donates $45K to Live Fire Training Facility

Stanley Black & Decker Inc. with facilities in Farmington, Connecticut has committed $45,000 over three years to support the development of a live fire training facility for the Towns of Farmington and Avon.

The facility will be located on Round Hill Road in Farmington on a parcel of land purchased by the town and adjacent to the existing police firing range. With zoning approval and feasibility studies already complete the firefighters are working to raise the $1 million that is needed to develop the land and construct the building. With cash donations and in-kind services they have reached $600,000; needing to raise an additional $400,000.

“We are thrilled to have the support of Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.,” said Mary-Ellen Harper, Director of Fire & Rescue Services in the Town of Farmington. “Corporate gifts like this are going to have a significant impact on our fundraising efforts, and we’re hopeful that more corporate partners will join the cause.”

Timothy Perra, VP of Communications at Stanley Black & Decker stated, “Farmington is home to a few of our facilities and several of our employees. Supporting a public safety cause like this made perfect sense and we’re pleased to make this commitment on behalf of all our employees.”

Harper went on to explain, “We’re making a paradigm shift away from classroom and simulated training and toward hands on practical training.”

Fire department personnel and local officials from the towns of Farmington and Avon have joined forces to make this project possible. It’s a partnership that will benefit both communities and those communities that call on them for mutual aid.

To learn more about the live fire training facility and to make a donation, contact: Fire Chief Richard Higley, 860.678.1018, richhigley@sbcglobal.net; Director of Fire & Rescue Services Mary-Ellen Harper, 860.675.2322, HarperM@Farmington-CT.org; or Avon Fire Marshal James DiPace, 860.409.4319, JDIPACE@town.avon.ct.us.