Missouri receives $1.7 million to speed emergency response to 9-1-1 calls
Technology upgrades allow cell calls to be pinpointed

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo -- The State of Missouri has received a federal grant of almost $1.7 million to help 9-1-1 call centers improve their ability to locate people calling 9-1-1 from wireless and Internet-connected telephones. Nineteen 9-1-1 call centers across Missouri will share the funds.

“The majority of calls to 9-1-1 now come in from wireless and Internet-connected phones but too often these mobile callers aren’t sure of their exact location. This federal grant will help ensure that we can improve the ability to locate the emergency callers more quickly, and promptly get Missourians the life-saving assistance they deserve,” said Gov. Jay Nixon.
The funds will be used to upgrade 9-1-1 systems and equipment and to purchase advanced software mapping systems to allow:

* mapping a cell phone 9-1-1 caller’s location
* develop and transmit driving directions to emergency responders
* identifying the 9-1-1 caller’s phone number and identity in case of dropped calls
* the ability to instantly replay recorded 9-1-1 calls to extract additional information in case of dropped calls

Grant awards were determined by a state review board after local jurisdictions proposed the areas in which they were most in need of assistance and agreed to provide matching funds, as required by the grant. The E-9-1-1 grant program was authorized under the Ensuring Needed Help Arrives Near Callers Employing 9-1-1 (ENHANCE 9-1-1) Act of 2004. The funding comes from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA).

Grant Recipients
Agency/Grant Amount
Atchison County $83,000
Barton County $42,000
Callaway County $35,000
Carroll County $98,000
Christian County $160,000
Dunklin County $55,000
Franklin County $155,599
Howell County $31,500
Macon County $160,000
Madison County $89,547
Mid-America Regional Council (MARC) $234,351
Maries County $33,500
Maryville DPS $37,675
Moniteau County $16,266
Newton County $135,714
Pettis County $28,000
Saline County $42,245
Stoddard County $43,000
Washington County $52,305
State of Missouri (Grant Management) $162,187
Total $1,694,889

Mike O'Connell
DPS Communications
Office: 573-751-4819
Cell: 573-301-2022
mike.o'connell@dps.mo.gov

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