Governor Hochul Announces $55 Million In State Funding To Enhance Emergency Communications

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced a combined $55 million in state funding was awarded to 57 counties and New York City for upgrades to the state’s emergency communications systems and public safety answering points. The funding was made available by two grants under the Statewide Interoperable Communications Grant program, which provides reimbursement to eligible counties to improve their emergency communication systems, as well as providing funding to further enhance public safety call-taking and dispatching abilities.

“Public safety is my number one priority here in New York State, and I’m proud to announce this year’s round of funding to enhance communication systems that help our emergency responders work more efficiently,” Governor Hochul said. “Year after year, we continue to make funding available to every county and New York City to help keep New Yorkers safe, and these grant programs do just that.”

Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services Commissioner Jackie Bray said, “It’s critical first responders have the equipment and infrastructure they need to maintain clear communication during times of crisis and this funding plays a key role in these efforts. Through these grants, our local partners will have the resources they need to enhance their emergency communications systems and further promote interoperability with their partners.”

The State Interoperable Communications Formula Grant (SICG-Formula) focuses on minimizing gaps in interoperable communications by aligning technology acquisitions with its operational use by first responders, providing the foundation necessary to accomplish a high level of interoperability. The grant allows the State to reimburse eligible expenses that aids localities in sustaining and improving communications systems and components, training and exercises, and governance structures. It also supports county public safety organizations in enhancing emergency response, improving on capability and performance results from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) National Emergency Communications Plan, improving operating procedures and infrastructure development, and addressing SAFECOM guidance from the DHS Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA).

The Public Safety Answering Point Operations Grant (PSAP) is noncompetitive and allocates money by a formula which distributes funding to awardees based on several varying criteria, including operational scope, demographic elements, emergency services call metrics, deployment of new technology, and adherence with State and national guidelines for emergency communications. The grant supports an awardee’s existing operations and encourages the development of Next Generation 911 (NG911) technologies and the Geographic Information System (GIS) data needed for NG911. The PSAP grant also promotes the development of operational and procedural efficiencies and overall collaboration between different jurisdictions, such as other counties and state agencies.