LINN — Osage Ambulance District announced this week that it has been awarded $2.4 million in federal funding through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s “Safe Streets and Roads for All” (SS4A) FY25 grant program.

“As the primary 911 EMS provider for our community, we see firsthand the impact roadway crashes have on families, responders, and our healthcare system,” said OAD EMS Chief Joshua Krull, noting the grant was made possible through the Missouri Foundation for Health’s MoCAP program.

Missouri Foundation for Health is building a more equitable future through collaboration, convening, knowledge sharing, and strategic investment. Working in partnership with communities and nonprofits, MFH is transforming systems to eliminate inequities within all aspects of health and addressing the social and economic factors that shape health outcomes. “This funding allows us to take a proactive, prevention-focused approach to traffic safety while strengthening emergency response, post-crash care, and long-term planning to help keep our communities safer,” said Krull.

The SS4A program, established under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, is a national initiative aimed at preventing roadway fatalities and serious injuries. In FY25 alone, 521 communities nationwide received nearly $1 billion in SS4A funding, including dozens of projects that directly support EMS, fire, and post-crash response systems, highlighting the essential role emergency services play in roadway safety and injury prevention.

Osage Ambulance District’s award will support the development of a Comprehensive Safety Action Plan focused on reducing traffic crashes, serious injuries, and fatalities across Osage County.

The plan will use a data-driven approach, local and regional collaboration, along with community input, to identify high-risk areas and prioritize strategies that improve safety for motorists, pedestrians, cyclists, and emergency responders.

The grant program provides funding for safety planning and implementation efforts, helping communities identify effective strategies and position themselves for future safety improvements and infrastructure investments.

Osage Ambulance District looks forward to working closely with county and municipal partners, law enforcement, fire departments, regional planning organizations, and community stakeholders throughout this process.

OAD provides 24/7 emergency medical services to portions of Osage, Maries, and Gasconade counties, serving over 1,000 square miles of rural and municipal communities with advanced life support, emergency response, and community-focused healthcare programs.

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