GOLIAD COUNTY, Texas — Goliad County EMS has received a $500,000 Rural Ambulance Service Grant to purchase a new ambulance and related equipment, EMS Director Holli Gregory said.
The funding comes from a statewide program established under House Bill 3000, approved in 2025, to support emergency medical services in rural communities, the Goliad Advance-Guard reported.
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Gregory said the county qualified for the maximum grant because it has fewer than 10,000 residents.
“For small communities like Goliad, programs like this are vital,” Gregory said. “Without grant funding, purchasing new ambulances, which are critical to emergency response, would not be financially possible.”
Grant funding can be used for the ambulance chassis, box, accessories and modifications. Gregory said any remaining money may go toward equipment such as stretchers and cardiac monitors, as the department’s fleet continues to age.
Gregory said ambulances typically last five to seven years, and newer models offer better safety protections for patients and crews, making grants important for rural EMS fleet replacement.
