Ellis County accepted a roughly $454,000 Patterson Family Foundation challenge grant and allocated a 10-acre parcel at 1515 West 55th for a proposed regional training facility featuring a live-fire Connex tower, flashover and LPG props, and classroom space; commissioners authorized moving forward and staff outlined a $820,000 equipment need and a $178,000 matching goal.

The commission accepted a roughly $454,000 grant from the Patterson Family Foundation toward a proposed regional training facility and agreed to allocate a 10-acre parcel at 1515 West 55th for the project; staff outlined facility components and a $178,000 match challenge from the foundation.