Decatur County one of 12 counties awarded grants for P25 communications systems

BAINBRIDGE, Ga. (WALB) – Decatur County is one of 12 counties in southwest Georgia that have been awarded more than $3 million in grants to upgrade their P25 communications system.

“The region sincerely appreciates this opportunity to provide much needed and improved equipment for its first responders,” a statement from the Southwest Georgia Regional Commission (SWGRC).

The grant was awarded to the Southwest Georgia Regional Commission (SWGRC) by the Office of Bishop Sanford.

According to the release, a Congressional Directed Spending (CDS) award of $3,947,986 was awarded to SWGRC by the Office of Congressman Sanford Bishop for the purpose of “assisting (12) eligible counties in southwest GA with a communications system upgrade P25. “

Of the 12 eligible counties, Calhoun, Early, Terrell and Worth counties dropped the project due to funding challenges.

Baker, Colquitt and Miller counties do not currently have a P25-compliant system and want to upgrade their current systems to P25, the release said.

The SWGRC said in the release that its priority is to get the three counties that do not have a P25 communications system the equipment they need to get it up and running.

Decatur, Grady, Mitchell, Seminole and Thomas counties already have a P25 compatible system, but the remaining funds – $664,281 – will provide replacement P25 radios/equipment.

“Any amounts in excess of the initial quotes will first come from the amount designated to counties already operating the P25 system; however, SWGRC and the counties that included this project understand that any amount of the total approved CDS award of $3,947,986 will come from local sources,” the release said.

of WALB McKenzie Blaze will have more information in our 6pm and 11pm news bulletins.

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