Allegany County receives $958,000 grant to enhance emergency communications

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced $55 million in state grant funding has been awarded to counties statewide and the City of New York for enhancing emergency communications. This funding will enable local governments to expand their ability to communicate, exchange valuable data, and streamline information to enhance collaboration and assist first responders. The State Interoperable Communications Grant contributed $45 million to local governments, and the Public Safety Answering Points Operations Grant contributed an additional $10 million to localities for a total of $55 million.

"Effective emergency communications are essential to a first responder's mission. Utilizing the latest technology will allow dispatch centers to quickly and efficiently respond to calls for help", said Roger L. Parrino, Sr., Commissioner of the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services. "The Division, through its Office of Interoperable and Emergency Communications, will continue to help local governments invest in the latest technology so they can help our citizens in an emergency."

In the region, grants were awarded to:

Allegany County: $958,841

Cattaraugus County: $726,536

Livingston County: $589,682

Steuben County: $804,996

Wyoming County: $473,355

Eligible counties can use this funding for a variety of functions, including expanding radio coverage by installing new equipment at towers and antenna sites, implementing Next Generation 911 technologies and standards, setting up communication channels among public safety radio systems, consolidating emergency services dispatch centers, supporting the operations of public safety dispatch centers, and deploying new technology that help counties link their systems together. Additionally, this funding will support training and exercises to promote efficient inter-regional communications, cooperation, and overall first responder readiness.