OHIO (WLIO) - The Ohio State Fire Marshal helps local fire departments make upgrades to their communication equipment.
229 fire departments across Ohio will get a share of 4 million dollars statewide as part of the MARCS Grant program. In Allen County, American and Bath townships, Harrod, Spencerville, and Westminster fire departments got between 30 and 50 thousand dollars for radio upgrades. In Putnam County, Fort Jennings and Kalida volunteer fire departments got nearly 50 thousand and 29 thousand dollars, respectively. Departments in Hardin, Mercer, and Logan counties also got some of the grant funding. Since 2020, the state's fire marshal's office has given out over 20 million dollars in MARCS grants.
To view the complete list of Ohio fire departments receiving funding from the MARCS Grant, click on the PDF below:
229 fire departments will receive nearly $4 million to enhance radio communication
December 11, 2024, Press Release from the Ohio Department of Commerce, Ohio State Fire Marshal: Columbus, Ohio – Ohio State Fire Marshal Kevin Reardon has announced the recipients of the 2025 MARCS (Multi-Agency Radio Communications System) Grant. This grant cycle, 229 fire departments located in 71 counties across the state will receive a combined total of nearly $4 million. A complete list of MARCS Grant recipients, organized by county, is available here. Fire departments will receive those funds in early 2025.
The MARCS radio system provides statewide, secure, reliable public service wireless communication for first responders. The system allows first responders to seamlessly communicate with each other, as well as with other agencies that may be responding to an incident. Costs to acquire and operate the advanced MARCS radio system technology can be significant, which highlights the importance of these grants in helping to ensure fire departments can access these valuable tools.
“Funding from these grants will give departments access to MARCS radios that they otherwise might not be able to purchase,” Reardon said. “Having first responders use these radios improves emergency services for departments around the state, allowing them to better serve their communities and save lives.”
The MARCS Grant is available annually to fire departments with service areas of 25,000 residents or less. Up to $50,000 per department is available through the grant. Priority funding goes to departments applying as part of a regional or countywide effort, as well as departments that show they are prepared to immediately begin using the MARCS radios upon receiving the award.
Since 2020, the Ohio Department of Commerce Division of State Fire Marshal (SFM) has awarded approximately $20.5 million to fire departments across the state through the MARCS Grant.
For additional details on the MARCS grant as well as other grant funding awarded by the division, visit SFM’s new interactive grants dashboard at com.ohio.gov/SFMDashboard. Launched earlier this year, the dashboard allows users to easily search and explore awarded grants across various categories including MARCS, equipment, and training.
