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Boone & Watauga County among NC 911 Fund grant recipients

Last Updated on November 22, 2021 11:48 am

The Town of Boone and Watauga County are among grant recipients recently announced by the N.C. Department of Information Technology.

The N.C. 911 Board has approved $8.45 million in grants to 12 local public safety answering points and $6 million for three statewide projects. The grants will fund improvements to 911 PSAPs, radio-and-dispatch equipment upgrades and creation of new PSAPs.

Locally, Boone Police Department will receive $252,565.43 and Watauga County will receive $154,130.86. Will Holt, Watauga County Emergency Services Director, tells WataugaOnline.com that the grants will be used in upgrading dispatch consoles in the communications center to the latest hardware. He adds that Boone is also doing a similar project.

“The N.C. 911 Board is pleased to announce this year’s grant awards to enhance the state’s 911 technology to support PSAPs across North Carolina,” said L. V. Pokey Harris, executive director of the North Carolina 911 Board. “These grants ensure that PSAPs are equipped with the best resources to keep our state’s residents and visitors safe.”

Grant recipients include:

  • Alleghany County — new 911 facility project, $135,000
  • Boone Police Department — radio replacement project, $252,565.43
  • Burke County — system software acquisition and implementation, $135,303.57 
  • Chowan County — radio system upgrade, $154,037.85
  • Cleveland County — regional 911 PSAP project, $3,525,591
  • Onslow County — system software acquisition and implementation, $925,982
  • Pasquotank-Camden 911 PSAP — radio system upgrade, $331,021.40
  • Perquimans County — upgraded equipment, $209,107.64
  • Polk County — new 911 facility project, $2,412,964
  • Robeson County — radio system upgrade, $ 106,899.99
  • Watauga County — upgraded equipment, $154,130.86
  • Wilson County — upgraded equipment, $108,250.50

 The statewide projects include: 

  • Orthoimagery System — $3,723,908
  • Data Analytics — $2,000,000
  • Interpretive Services Program — —$290,000

In addition, the N.C. 911 Board is opening applications for the Priority One Collaboration Grants, which offer $5 million for consolidation and cooperative efforts between PSAPs. Learn more about what the Priority One Collaboration Grants cover and how to apply.

The N.C. General Assembly created the 911 Board in 1998 that now manages both landline and wireless 911 services in North Carolina, as well as related policies and procedures, and to administer the state’s 911 Fund. The fund is used to support equipment purchases for all 911 PSAPs in the state. The board is housed with the N.C. Department of Information Technology.
 

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