St. Lawrence County will receive $806,143 from the state to improve emergency communications, Governor Kathy Hochul announced.

The grant is intended to enable local governments to expand their ability to communicate, exchange valuable data, and streamline information to enhance collaboration and assist first responders, officials say.

"One of the keys to successful emergency response is a communications structure that all responders can depend on to relay important information and improve overall response activities," Governor Hochul said. "This grant will ensure our firefighters, police officers, EMTs and paramedics, and anyone who responds to a disaster will have the tools and training they need to communicate more effectively and efficiently,” Hochul said.

The State Interoperable Communications Grant, administered by the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, has awarded $472 million to municipalities over nine rounds since December 2011.

The Statewide Interoperable Communications Grant is formula based and funded by cellular surcharge revenue.

The program has allowed counties to make vital improvements in the way first responders can communicate between each other and different regions of the state using land mobile radio systems.

Each county and New York City can submit applications to fund projects involving infrastructure, equipment, and technology upgrades.

Eligible counties can use the funding for various functions, including enhancing emergency response for county, local and municipal public safety organizations, improving capability, improvements in governance structures, operating procedures, infrastructure development, and addressing SAFECOM guidance from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Office of Emergency Communications.