New York makes available $20M to improve local public safety, emergency communications systems

A total of $20 million in grant funding was made available to eligible counties in New York last week to improve land mobile radio interoperability among public safety agencies and, more generally, improve the state’s emergency communications systems.

“Communications are the backbone of emergency response and this funding will improve our public safety equipment across the board,” said Jackie Bray, New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services Commissioner.

Eligible counties will be reimbursed for various activities associated with emergency communication systems, as part of the State Interoperable Communications Grant Targeted program. These counties will need to apply, but if selected they could potentially use the money to improve redundancy and resiliency of public safety radio systems, expand coverage and frequency band capabilities of national interoperability channels, and either create or improve shared radio and other systems.

Applications opened following the announcement by New York Gov. Kathy Hochul last week, and will remain so until Sept. 8, 2023.

“In an emergency, every second counts,” Hochul said. “This grant funding will help ensure our communities across the state have the modern communication tools they need to act quickly and effectively to protect New Yorkers and save lives.”