This Wednesday, April 12, representatives of La Banque Postale presented a trophy to their counterparts from Sdis du Gard to celebrate the granting of a “social loan” of €4 million. This money will be used to renew and modernize intervention materials and equipment.
La Banque Postale’s social loan is used to finance social or training establishments, urban renewal programs and sports and cultural facilities, as well as investments necessary for the proper functioning of a Sdis (departmental fire and rescue service ). This Wednesday, April 12, representatives of the public banking establishment presented a trophy to Alexandre Pissas, elected official and president of Sdis du Gard, for the granting of a loan of €4 million – at a fixed rate guaranteed over twenty years. – “to renew its intervention equipment, rehabilitate its rescue centers and modernize its medical equipment”.
From 300 to 500,000 € the fire truck
“A truck costs €300 to €500,000, but we have to buy eight to ten a year, and an ambulance €100,000. Last year, as a service of last resort, we carried out 508,000 interventions. Consequently, this money, which comes on top of the annual €5 million allocated by the Department Council, is welcome.rejoiced Colonel Thierry Carret, departmental director of Sdis. In particular, it will allow us to work in the best conditions during this summer, which promises to be hot with temperatures possibly higher than in 2022.”
To finance new barracks
The loan could also contribute to financing new barracks. Indeed, the Gard is “deficit in this area with thirty barracks for 750,000 inhabitants against fifty for 150,000 inhabitants less in the Vaucluse”underlined Alexandre Pissas. “A key feature of our CSR policy, the social loan should benefit other structures in the years to come”, concluded Olivier Touchet, Mediterranean Director of La Banque Postale. On a national scale, in the long term, the total amount of social loans and green loans granted by the subsidiary should be €500 million.
