VDEM ANNOUNCES GRANT PROGRAM FOR ADDITIONAL NEXT GENERATION 9-1-1 FUNDING

VDEM ANNOUNCES GRANT PROGRAM FOR ADDITIONAL NEXT GENERATION 9-1-1 FUNDING

RICHMOND – On February 20, 2025, the Virginia 9-1-1 Services Board approved the Next Generation 9-1-1 (NG9-1-1) Additional Funding Grant Program.  This grant program will provide $20.3 million in funding to the 9-1-1 community to address immediate operational needs.  This funding will be used to increase Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) operational resiliency and help the 9-1-1 community be better prepared for future unplanned disruptions.

The deployment of NG9-1-1 across Virginia is a project that transforms the landscape of public safety for those that live, work, and visit Virginia. Virginia’s investment in connectivity, software, services, data, and training reduces the time between a 9-1-1 call and the dispatch of an appropriate response. Since 2018, the 9-1-1 Services Board has been singularly focused on the deployment of this new technology and providing funding to PSAPs to support these efforts. Recurring NG9-1-1 network costs are higher than legacy 9-1-1 recurring costs for most Virginia’s PSAPs.

In recent 9-1-1 town halls, PSAP community members shared that their centers have several immediate operational gaps that need to be addressed in addition to recurring NG9-1-1 network costs. This grant program has been expanded to provide funding for NG9-1-1 recurring costs and/or other immediate operational needs.

“As we near the completion of NG9-1-1 deployments across the commonwealth, I want to thank the members of the 9-1-1 Services Board and the PSAP Grant Committee for their continued support and ongoing efforts to create a more resilient Virginia 9-1-1 system,” said VDEM Deputy State Coordinator Dorothy Spears-Dean. “Our new grant program will help to ensure that this system continues to provide vital emergency services when needed and plan for a future that embraces state of the art technology for Virginia PSAPs.”

As VDEM highlights its own 24/7 readiness, Virginians are encouraged to take steps to ensure their households are prepared as well. Families should review emergency plans, check supply kits, and stay informed by signing up for local alerts and following official guidance from public safety agencies.

For more information on preparedness resources, visit www.vaemergency.gov.

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For more information, please contact us at PIO@vdem.virginia.gov

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