New fire station for Althüttendorf: foundation stone successfully laid!

New fire station for Althüttendorf: foundation stone successfully laid!

In Althüttendorf, a small town in Barnim, the foundation stone for a new fire station was laid on October 6, 2025. This is not only an important step for the local fire department, but also represents the largest building construction project during the term of office of director Hans-Joachim Blomenkamp. Numerous personalities were present at the ceremony, including district administrator Daniel Kurth, mayor Michael Dupont and Wilfried Kornack as well as representatives of the Barnim local action group. The project is of great importance for the community and the volunteer forces, as it offers around 30 members of the Althüttendorf Volunteer Fire Department modern accommodation that is intended to create sustainable conditions for their work.

What is particularly interesting is that a symbolic time capsule was sunk into the foundation. This gesture symbolizes the community's commitment to the new building and its hopes for the future. Blomenkamp emphasized the challenges in finding a location, especially due to nature conservation requirements, and thanked Mayor Kornack for identifying the suitable municipal property. The financing of the project is impressive: around 650,000 euros come from the district development budget, 830,000 euros come from the state of Brandenburg and additional funds are expected from the EU via the Local Action Group (LAG). A collaboration that District Administrator Kurth highlighted as exemplary.

Funding for fire brigade projects

In a broader context, the ministry in Saxony-Anhalt also offers funding to support the fire stations. Municipalities can apply for up to 11.52 million euros in EU funds to finance fire stations, fire water ponds and other extraction points. These funds come from the EU Recovery Instrument and the European Agricultural Fund. The funding is particularly interesting for rural communities with up to 10,000 residents, with the funding amount being tailored to the number of parking spaces in the fire station. An impressive project that aims to strengthen rural areas and modernize the infrastructure.

The applications can be submitted to the Office for Agriculture, Land Reorganization and Forestry Altmark in Stendal by March 31, 2022, with an opportunity to complete them by the end of May. It is important to know that the funded projects must be completed by June 30, 2025 at the latest. This shows how seriously the country's support for the infrastructure of the fire departments is taken.

EU funding: basics and possibilities

The EU plays a central role in this context, ensuring that over 94 percent of its budget funds benefit citizens and local authorities. The responsible administration of these funds lies in the hands of the federal states, which also select the funded projects. This includes numerous initiatives ranging from urban development to social inclusion and agricultural projects. Innovative companies and non-governmental organizations that operate not for profit can also benefit from this funding, including fire service organizations.

With so much positive development in Althüttendorf, residents can look forward to a strengthened future in the areas of security and infrastructure. The new building of the fire station symbolizes comprehensive cooperation between different levels - from the EU to the state to the community.