04/18/2026
Franklin County Receives T-Mobile Hometown Grant to Enhance Public Safety in County Parks
Franklin County has been awarded a T-Mobile Hometown Grant to support the purchase and installation of life-saving emergency equipment across county parks. The award was formally presented on April 16, 2026, at Waid Park. Funding will provide 12 Zoll AED Plus Defibrillators and 10 CE-TEK 4000 All-Weather enclosures, strategically placed to improve rapid access to defibrillation and strengthen emergency response capabilities in high-use recreational areas.
The project reflects Franklin County’s continued commitment to public safety, particularly in spaces where families, youth athletes, and community members gather daily. By increasing the availability of automated external defibrillators (AEDs), the County aims to reduce response times during cardiac emergencies and improve survival outcomes.
Nick Mitchell, Board of Supervisors Vice Chairman and Representative for the Snow Creek District, emphasized the broader impact of the investment:
“Our parks and athletic fields are some of the most active and meaningful spaces in Franklin County. They’re where kids grow, families connect, and our community comes to life. On any given evening, you’ll find practices, games, and people just enjoying being together. But this is about more than just equipment. It’s about being prepared. It’s about making sure that whether you’re a parent in the stands, a coach on the field, or a child playing the game, you’re in a place where your safety is a priority. We are incredibly grateful to T-Mobile for their investment in Franklin County. Their commitment to communities like ours is making a real, tangible difference. And this effort reflects something bigger, what can happen when partners come together with a shared goal: to protect and support the people who call this place home.”
Chief Michael Fowler, Director of Franklin County Fire and EMS, discussed the importance of this project:
“This grant directly strengthens our ability to protect lives in the moments that matter most. Our parks are some of the most active spaces in Franklin County, bringing together families, athletes, and visitors every day. Sudden cardiac arrest is a time-critical emergency, and having AEDs readily available in these locations significantly increases the chances of survival. By placing this equipment where our community gathers, we are improving response times, enhancing preparedness, and providing peace of mind to those we serve.”
The scale of recreational activity in Franklin County underscores the importance of this initiative. Nikki Custer, Franklin County Youth Athletics Manager, highlighted the volume of participation and the role safety plays in sustaining those programs:
“Each year, we have over 500 recreational teams across 15 leagues. That adds up to nearly 4,000 young athletes participating annually. Behind them are 786 volunteer coaches who give more than 43,000 hours of their time, an investment valued at over $1.4 million, but worth far more to the kids they support. Our parks are busy too, hosting more than 1,500 games and over 6,000 practices every year. That’s thousands of moments where kids are learning, growing, and just being kids. But with all that activity comes responsibility. Because when you have that many people coming together, safety matters. The addition of AEDs in our parks is more than just equipment; it’s peace of mind. It means that if something unexpected happens, we’re better prepared to respond.”
The initiative also reflects collaboration between public and private partners. Virginia State Senator Bill Stanley noted the importance of this partnership and its alignment with recent statewide efforts:
“With this private-public partnership, Franklin County has demonstrated once again its commitment to the health and safety of its citizens at our public ball fields and parks. Like the legislation that I wrote and got passed in the recent General Assembly session, the county's commitment to placing defibrillators at our local public parks sets the standard for other counties in the Commonwealth to follow, because this action will most assuredly save lives.”
The T-Mobile Hometown Grants program, launched in April 2021, supports small towns and rural communities with funding for projects that enhance local quality of life. To date, the program has impacted approximately 2.8 million people and contributed to the creation of nearly 2,700 jobs. Grants of up to $50,000 have supported a wide range of initiatives, including STEM education programs, historic building revitalizations, and the transformation of community gathering spaces.
Franklin County’s project aligns with the program’s mission by addressing a critical public health need while strengthening community infrastructure. Installation of the AED units and enclosures is expected to be completed in the coming months.
