MAVAC Hosts Representatives From NY Assembly Offices of Kelles & Gallahan and NY Senator Webb Regarding Funding Opportunities For New Facility

Wednesday morning, EMS Chief of the Marathon Area Volunteer Ambulance Corps. (MAVAC) John Tillotson hosted representatives from New York Assembly Districts of Anna Kelles & Jeff Gallahan along with New York State Senator Lea Webb regarding funding opportunities for the construction of a new ambulance station for MAVAC. Also in attendance at the meeting were Marathon Town Supervisor, Davis Cross, and Village of Marathon Mayor, Scott Chamberlin.

Chief Tillotson provided an overview of the future ambulance station which will be located at 15 Broome Street in the Village of Marathon. The property is shovel ready he says with MAVAC owning the land with no loans or liens, acquired in 2021. The new facility will host three garage bays, a sleeping quarters for overnight crews, proper storage space including a medicine safe, and a state-of-the-art training center. The building will also be located out of the FEMA flood zone and can be utilized as an operation center for major events such as flooding. The location of the facility will also provide quick access to I81. MAVAC currently operates out of the Marathon Fire Station.

The MAVAC district covers nearly 135 square miles and includes 11 miles of I81, 11 miles northbound & 11 miles southbound. They service both the Town and Village of Marathon, and the Towns of Lapeer, Freetown, Willet, and a portion of Virgil and Lisle. In addition to their district, MAVAC says 20% of their annual calls are for mutual aid for neighboring EMS districts. MAVAC provides 24/7 ALS (Advanced Life Support) coverage.

In 2024, MAVAC responded to 780 emergency calls, the highest year ever. MAVAC was founded in January 2000 and has experienced an increase of calls, by 114%, in the two decades of service.

MAVAC has been successful in working on receiving funding for their new ambulance station, which is estimated to cost around $4 million dollars. Chief Tillotson noted during his meeting with state representatives the site is shovel ready with the organization securing all planning approvals, including approval from the Department of Transportation on a wider drive-way on Route 11.

One of the largest grants MAVAC secured came from assistance from Senator Chuck Schumer and now former Congressman Marc Molinaro in the amount of $975,000 dollars through a Congressional grant in 2024. The agency also secured $25,000 from Farm Credit East and a $1.2 million dollar loan from the First National Bank of Dryden. MAVAC has also applied for funding through NY Forward; the Village of Marathon was awarded $4.5 million earlier this year from the program to support projects within the village. The agency has also raised thousands from private donations.

Tillotson says he is hoping to secure another $1 million through a New York Community Resiliency, Economic Sustainability and Technology Program (CREST) grant. Realistically, he told state reps. he understands funding for a CREST grant is more towards $500-700K, but says he hopes MAVAC can secure at least $600,000.

Providing a tour to state representatives, Chief Tillotson showed how MAVAC has now outgrown their current location within the Marathon Fire Department. The agency has three vehicles, two ambulances and one fly car, which have to be specifically positioned in a two-door bay. He added the building also does not have accommodations for overnight crews for rest adding they sometimes have to use an air mattress while working overnights. This challenge has also led to some leaving the agency.

If MAVAC is awarded funding through a CREST grant, state representatives noted it is a process through the state which could have funding not seen until next July. Chief Tillotson expressed his confidence in obtaining additional funding for the facility, noting the planned construction has seen strong local support. One of the stories he noted of support was of an annual donation from a family who MAVAC provided life saving care for the wife when she went into cardiac arrest. The family makes a donation each year to MAVAC, and increases their donation by $100 each year, to mark every year that has passed since her life was saved.

The Marathon Area Volunteer Ambulance Corps is made up of 3 full-time, 5 part-time, 8-part time EMTS, and has 15 drivers. The agency was able to respond to 98.5% of their calls last year, with the 13 they were unable to respond to due to their EMTs already on calls.

More information on MAVAC can be found at MarathonAmbulance.org.