Imagine you have important news to share with your mom. You give her a call, but you can’t get through.  With each attempt, your frustration grows as the call drops before it can even connect.

Now imagine a life depends on you reaching her.

In an emergency, seconds count. That’s why our Emergency Communication Networks (ECN) division is dedicated to keeping first responders in contact with each other — ensuring they can share information, saves lives. ECN awarded $4 million in grants to 77 applicants this year for improvements to the Allied Radio Matrix for Emergency Response (ARMER) program — a radio network for public safety agencies statewide.

“These grants help first responders stay connected across our state. When you’re on the scene of a fire or another emergency, a radio is a lifeline to your team,” said Department of Public Safety Assistant Commissioner T. John Cunningham. “Minnesota has one of the most robust and advanced communications systems in the country. Ensuring that our state’s first responders can remain connected — and informed — is vitally important to saving lives.

ARMER was first built in the Twin Cities in 2004, then expanded to St. Cloud and Rochester, and has since been built out throughout the rest of Minnesota. The system, which was made possible through a partnership with the Minnesota Department of Transportation and Statewide Emergency Communications Board, is used by state, local and Tribal government agencies every day as they work to keep all of us safe.

The grant program, funded by the Minnesota Legislature, allows those agencies to stay connected to the ARMER system, which means they can better work together to help you. Through the grant funding, our partners are able to buy more radios, replace failing equipment and expand radio capabilities in a way that maximizes the impact across Minnesota.

The need for these updates is clear. ECN received applications from 178 public entities statewide, collectively requesting $23 million for critical improvements. Our grants team carefully reviewed each application, ultimately selecting 77 projects, with an average award of $51,000. Many of the funded requests came from smaller agencies with limited resources, seeking to replace outdated radios with new ARMER-compatible equipment. While ECN’s work isn’t something the public often sees, the impact will be evident whenever you need assistance.

The overwhelming response to the grant opportunity gave our team valuable insights that will help shape future programs and initiatives.