Johnston County 911 Center Awarded $1.7 Million Grant

SMITHFIELD – The Johnston County 911 Center in Smithfield has been awarded a $1,756,657.27 grant from the North Carolina 911 Board. The grant was among $16.3 million in grants awarded by the Board that will benefit 911 call centers in 11 counties and cities across the state.

The Johnston County 911 grant will be used for radio and paging infrastructure upgrades and assist with the move to a new 911 Center in 2023, according to Johnston County 911 Director Brett Renfrow.

Funds will allow the local 911 center to upgrade their infrastructure at the new Public Safety Center to the latest radio and dispatch technology currently available. It will also cover costs for moving the phone system and a backup generator.

“We are very grateful to the NC911 Board for the award of this grant to Johnston County 911. This grant award will allow Johnston County 911 to continue to provide the very highest level of Public Safety access to our Fire, EMS, and Law Enforcement partners who continue to serve the citizens of Johnston County daily,” Mr. Renfrow said.

Renfrow thanked his staff who submitted the grant and their efforts and attention to detail in the application.

“This year’s grant awards help to equip PSAPs (public safety answering points) with the best technology and resources to keep our state’s residents and visitors safe,” said N.C. 911 Board Chair James A. Weaver, state chief information officer and secretary of the N.C. Department of Information Technology. “These grants make sure that PSAPs have the right tools to quickly and effectively collaborate and respond to people in need.”

A unit of the N.C. Department of Information Technology, the N.C. 911 Board administers the state’s 911 Fund. A single, statewide service charge per connection for any type of voice communication service provider goes to the 911 Fund to support equipment purchases for all 911 centers in the state. NCDIT Secretary and State Chief Information Officer Jim Weaver serves as the N.C. 911 Board’s chair.