WASHINGTON - Congressman Dale E. Kildee (D-MI) announced today that he has secured $200,000 in funding for upgrading Bay County’s 911 emergency response system with the passage of the House-Senate conference report on the Science, State, Justice and Commerce Appropriations Bill for fiscal year 2006.  The bill passed the House of Representatives on November 9, 2005.  Kildee formally requested these funds in April from the Appropriation Subcommittee on Science, State, Justice and Commerce and his request was included in the final version of the bill.

“I am delighted that my colleagues understood the urgent need to upgrade the current 911 system in Bay County by including my initial appropriations request in the final version of the Science, State, Justice and Commerce Appropriations bill,” said Kildee.  “We must make sure that the residents of Bay County have immediate access to the best emergency response system available.  These upgrades and technological improvements will ultimately help save lives by improving the efficiency of our local emergency response system.”

Bay County Central Dispatch, part of the Michigan Central Dispatch Emergency Radio Communications System, will use this funding to make significant investments in upgrading its 25 year-old 911 emergency response system.  The original system was established for mobile radio use which offers very poor coverage and lack of range in many parts of the county.  Bay County Central Dispatch is working to install a new radio communications system offering improved efficiency and better emergency response services.