Nebraska Governor Mike Johanns has announced the distribution of $19-million to local communities as part of the 2004 Homeland Security grant allocations.
The focus of this year's grants is on communications and improving local, regional and state interoperability.
"I am very impressed by the collaborative efforts that have been inspired by the focus on communications," Governor Johanns said. "When we put the various projects together on one map, I realized the tremendous progress toward interoperability they represent."
The $19 million will be awarded to 78 counties in the coming days. The
collaborative efforts of those counties represent 12 major communications projects throughout the state.
Under the umbrella of the 12 main projects:
Douglas County will receive $2-million to enhance the mobile data capability of law enforcement.
Washington County will receive $1.6 million to establish a new
communications system to expand their coverage throughout the county and to integrate its system into the Douglas County system.
The southeast Nebraska counties of Cass, Otoe, Nemaha and Richardson will receive $1.4 million to upgrade their communications centers and to begin assessing the potential to integrate into the Douglas County communications system.
Saunders County will receive $662,000 to expand its coverage countywide and to integrate its system into the Lincoln/Lancaster County communications system.
Lancaster County will receive $1 million to complete the integration of 17 rural fire districts into the Lincoln/Lancaster County communications system.
The Nebraska State Patrol is being awarded $1.5 million to enhance the
agency's communications system and statewide connectivity.
