Northwest Regionalized Communication System

This grant program is authorized by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5) (the 'Recovery Act') and by 42 U.S.C. 3751(a). The stated purposes of the Recovery Act are: to preserve and create jobs and promote economic recovery; to assist those most impacted by the recession; to provide investments needed to increase economic efficiency by spurring technological advances in science and health; to invest in transportation, environmental protection, and other infrastructure that will provide long-term economic benefits; and to stabilize state and local government budgets, in order to minimize and avoid reductions in essential services and counterproductive state and local tax increases. The Recovery Act places great emphasis on accountability and transparency in the use of taxpayer dollars.

Among other things, it creates a new Recovery Accountability and Transparency Board and a new website ' Recovery.gov ' to provide information to the public, including access to detailed information on grants and contracts made with Recovery Act funds.

The Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program funded under the Recovery Act is the primary provider of federal criminal justice funding to state and local jurisdictions. Recovery JAG funds support all components of the criminal justice system, from multi-jurisdictional drug and gang task forces to crime prevention and domestic violence programs, courts, corrections, treatment, and justice information sharing initiatives. Recovery JAG funded projects may address crime through the provision of services directly to individuals and/or communities and by improving the effectiveness and efficiency of criminal justice systems, processes, and procedures.

Erie County and the city of Sandusky have agreed that the county will serve as the fiscal agent for their Fiscal Year 2009 Justice Assistance Grant award and that the eligible joint allocation of $153,385 will be used for the Northwest Regionalized Information System. This initiative combines public safety dispatch services in Erie County and reduces costs for communications services. The initial phase of the project will be completed by September 1, 2009, and will involve merging the city of Sandusky's dispatch center with the Erie County Sheriff's Communications Center to form the Northwest Regionalized Information System. Plans are to add at least one more jurisdiction's dispatch center to the system by August 1, 2010, and to continue to add more jurisdictions in subsequent years. This project will eliminate duplication of public safety communications in the county and reduce costs for purchasing and maintaining equipment. Equipment, materials, and supplies required for the project will be purchased expeditiously from American manufacturers and will help stimulate the economy.

NCA/NCF