MALONE — Franklin County was awarded $500,000 through the state’s County Infrastructure Grant Program to go toward new equipment for emergency services.
The funding for Franklin County, one of 49 projects announced on Thursday, will be used to modernize the counties Emergency Services’ infrastructure by replacing outdated radio equipment at the Reynoldson site in the town of Brandon, Mount Pisgah, outside of Saranac Lake, and the Mount Morris site, outside of Tupper Lake, according to a press release issued by the governor’s office.
This project will help to eliminate Canadian signal interference and radio frequency overlaps, enhance response times, and ensure a reliable communication grid for public safety, according to the release.
Franklin County Manager Donna J. Kissane told the Telegram that the funding announced on Thursday was from round two of the grant program, and said the county received funding through the first round of the County Infrastructure Grant Program, which also totaled $500,000.
Kissane said both grants will go towards county efforts to modernize radio equipment.
“We are always excited when we get this funding because that means we can just keeping moving towards our goal,” she said, “It’s really to continue to address our radio system. I know we are addressing some infrastructure along where all of our sort of hubs are that manage everything. We have these little buildings and hubs in all those areas, Reynoldson to be able to send signals out. It’s making sure what we have at those sites makes it so the radios can reach as far as we need them to.”
On Thursday, Gov. Kathleen C. Hochul announced more than $38 million of grant funding through the County Infrastructure Grant Program, and the initiative was first launched in November 2024 and is administered by Empire State Development.
The program provides grants to support small and medium-sized county-led infrastructure projects, according to the governor, and to date, more than $74 million has been awarded to nearly 100 projects throughout the state.
“Investing in infrastructure means investing in New York’s future,” Hochul said in a statement, “With $38 million being awarded to 49 different projects across the state, we are giving local governments the tools they need to thrive and expand opportunities for New Yorkers.”
Grants up to $500,000 are awarded to priority projects identified by the county that support economic development and contribute to or encourage tourism, according to the governor’s office.
“Counties are proud to be partners in New York’s efforts to build more housing and create stronger communities across the state,” Stephen J. Acquario, executive director of New York State Association of Counties. said in a statement, “The County Infrastructure Grant Program has been a critical catalyst for moving these projects forward and supporting thousands of new housing units and vital community infrastructure across the state.”
In addition to Thursday’s funding, emergency services in Franklin County received $1,251,036, from the state’s Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services Statewide Interoperable Communications Grant.
Around half of those funds will be used over the next two years to help maintain the county’s current communications, including tower leasing, in addition to service and repairs, according to an email from Robbie Demarse, Franklin County Fire coordinator.
The rest of the funding will be invested in the county’s new radio system and the goal is to replace the current radio system with an updated engineered system in order to maintain interoperability and expansion of coverage, according to Demarse, and the project is still expected to be two years out.
A third round of the County Infrastructure Grant Program is expected to launch in the coming weeks, according to the governor’s office
Kissane said the plan is for Franklin County to apply for the third round of fundin
“We are applying any chance we get,” she said, “We greatly appreciate it to help us keeping moving this radio project along.”