County will spend $3.7 M to increase communications

Grant funds to update emergency calls

Thanks to a $1.2 million grant secured by U.S. Rep. Jerry Carl and a $2.5 million shift in Alabama Rescue Plan Act funds, Escambia County, Ala., is about to kickoff a $3.7 million project to update communications for law enforcement, fire departments, emergency medical services and other first responders.

Escambia County Sheriff Heath Jackson said Rep. Carl’s grant funds and the ARPA funds will be used to install infrastructure on towers and to outfit first responders with new P25 radioes.

The county commission had originally put aside up to $2.5 million in ARPA funds for renovations to t...