ALBANY COUNTY — Albany County has received $2,365,306 to improve emergency communication.
The money is part of a combined $100 million awarded to 57 counties and New York City from the Statewide Interoperable Communications Grant program. 

“This funding is critical to strengthening New York's emergency response capabilities, in situations where every second counts,” Governor Kathy Hochul said in a statement on Wednesday, announcing the grants. 

The $100 million in funding will be administered by the State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services under two different grants: $90 million from the Statewide Interoperable Communications Grants and $10 million for Public Safety Answering Point grants.  

The funding is formula-based and provided through cellular surcharge revenue. The grants are designed to help counties 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.