Cheshire County plans to launch its own EMS service, thanks to $200,000 in federal funds that will aid efforts to train emergency personnel in the region, according to a news release from New Hampshire’s congressional delegation.

With the goal of improving patient care and public safety among other projects, the funds will support the creation of a Cheshire EMS training program that will offer at least 60 hours of training. The money will also provide emergency-medical-response and emergency-medicaltechnician training for at least six employees of large businesses, provide initial EMS training to firefighters and help with the purchasing of equipment and supplies, according to the release.

In May, the county broke ground on a base of operations for Cheshire EMS in Swanzey after buying the property on Monadnock Highway (Route 12) earlier this year.

At the groundbreaking ceremony, the chairman of the Cheshire County Commissioners, Jack Wozmak, shared that Cheshire EMS could be operational by September with between 30 and 35 employees.

— RYAN SPENCER/KEENE SENTINEL