By EMS1 Staff
WASHINGTON — Several EMS and 911 agencies across the country are set to benefit from nearly $38 million in grants aimed at improving highway safety and emergency response coordination, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) announced.
These funds are part of the Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) program, which supports public safety initiatives by enhancing technology, staffing and regional cooperation, the DOT said.
One significant recipient is the Southwest Minnesota EMS Corp, awarded nearly $10 million to implement a tele-EMS system. This system aims to streamline access to trauma care for patients injured in traffic crashes, serving 18 counties and supporting both rural health systems and volunteer EMS agencies, according to DOT.
In South Carolina, Charleston County’s 911 system received close to $1.3 million to establish a comprehensive computer-aided dispatch (CAD) system, the DOT said. This project focuses on managing overlapping jurisdictional areas and improving regional public safety. The system will enable seamless coordination between agencies through better resource sharing, technology alignment, and mutual aid agreements.
Other recipients include the County of Gunnison in Colorado, the City of Alabaster in Alabama, the City of Batesville in Arkansas, the University of Arizona, and the City of Houston, Texas.
These initiatives are part of a larger push to improve roadway safety across the U.S., the DOT said. The SS4A program has already funded projects in over 1,400 communities, covering nearly 75% of the population. Additional funding opportunities for 911 and EMS agencies are expected to be announced later this year. Public safety agencies are encouraged to continue applying for grants through the Department of Transportation to support their efforts in improving emergency response and road safety.
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