COLUMBUS – The Ohio Department of Commerce’s Division of State Fire Marshal opened applications the 2023 MARCS (Multi-Agency Radio Communications Systems) grant. In the previous year’s grant cycle, the State Fire Marshal received more than $8.5 million in requests for the $3.5 million in total available funding.
“This is a highly-competitive selection process,” said State Fire Marshal Kevin S. Reardon. “I’m honored to continue this great legacy of supporting Ohio’s first responders with critical grant funding.”
Online applications will be accepted from now until Nov. 11 at com.ohio.gov/grants.
The grant funding will be available for eligible recipients providing fire protection services to purchase MARCS systems, equipment and/or services operated by the state of Ohio.
The MARCS grant application packet is accompanied by a worksheet guidance document, which will allow applicants to gather all necessary information prior to submitting an application.
The MARCS Grant is available annually to fire departments with service areas of 25,000 or less with up to $50,000 per department is available through this grant. There are currently over 120,000 voice units and over 1,800 mobile data units on the MARCS system with over 2,800 local, state, and federal agencies statewide.