The Orange County 911 Center is receiving approximately $1.75 million in state funding to enhance emergency communications. The money is coming from two state grants which invest into public safety communications.
Orange County’s grants are part of a combined $100 million in state funding awarded to 57 counties, which is being administered by the State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services. The two grants being provided are Statewide Interoperable Communication Grants (SICG) and Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP). The funding is provided through cellular surcharge revenue.
Orange County will receive $1,684,021 from the SICG grant plus an additional $155,422 from the PSAP grant. The grants are specifically designed to help dispatch centers improve the methods used by first responders to communicate with one another. Recipients can use the funding to install new radio equipment at towers and antenna sites as well as enhancing communication channels among public safety radio systems. The funding also supports training and exercises to promote interregional emergency communications and overall first responder readiness.
“This funding is critical to strengthening New York’s emergency response capabilities, in situations where every second counts,” Governor Kathy Hochul said. “We are laser focused on making smart investments in public safety across the state and these grants will be a significant boost for local governments working around the clock to keep New Yorkers safe.”
State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services Commissioner Jackie Bray added, “Keeping New Yorkers safe is job #1 for Governor Hochul and the team at DHSES. These grants help local governments perform their public safety functions, strengthen the local response posture, and support emergency responders across the state.”
