Workforce Communication Upgrades for Montana First Responders
GrantID: 75934
Grant Funding Amount Low: $15,000
Deadline: Ongoing
Grant Amount High: $40,000
Summary
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Grant Overview
Montana’s first-responder agencies operate across distances that exceed those in any neighboring state. Counties such as Phillips and Garfield span more than 5,000 square miles with fewer than two residents per square mile. Cellular coverage drops below 50 percent in many valleys, forcing reliance on radio systems that must reach mountaintop repeaters.
Workforce turnover compounds the connectivity problem. The Montana Department of Labor reports that 34 percent of rural fire and EMS positions turn over every two years, largely because seasonal employment in agriculture and tourism pulls workers away. Remaining personnel must therefore master equipment that functions with minimal on-site technical support.
Unlike Colorado applications, Wyoming requires demonstration of extreme rural delivery capacity due to frontier county designation.
Montana's Remote Connectivity Gaps for First Responders
Grant applications must include current radio coverage maps produced within the past 18 months. These maps are cross-checked against the state’s 911 addressing database to identify road segments longer than 20 miles without reliable dispatch contact. Equipment proposals that add satellite-linked handheld units or airborne repeater capability for those segments receive higher evaluation scores.
Workforce documentation is required. Applicants list the number of certified personnel per county and attach retention data for the previous five years. Proposals that include ruggedized training simulators receive credit because they reduce the need for travel to distant training sites.
Montana's Infrastructure and Agency Capacity Limits
The state’s primary east-west rail corridor and limited interstate highway system create single points of failure during winter storms. Funded communication tools must operate for 72 hours on internal batteries when commercial power is lost along these routes. Agencies must also certify that proposed devices comply with the state’s encryption standards for interagency traffic.
Population age distribution data from the most recent census show that 22 percent of residents are 65 or older in eastern counties. Equipment that supports medical telemetry from remote locations to hospitals in Billings or Great Falls therefore aligns with documented need.
Reviewers verify that requested quantities do not exceed one unit per 150 square miles of primary response territory unless the applicant demonstrates mutual-aid obligations that cover additional counties.
Eligible Regions
Interests
Eligible Requirements
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