County considers applying for no-match critical-infrastructure mapping grants for first responders

Emergency management staff told commissioners about a grant opportunity to produce tactical, gridded maps for county infrastructure and facilities so first responders and dispatch can access a common operating picture during incidents.

"With this grant...there's the possibility of applying for 3 grants for up to $75,000. It is 0 match," the presenter said, describing micro and macro map deliverables, on-site visits to gather floor plans, and multiple dissemination options (print, portal or a mobile app for dispatch and response units). Staff said the county would need approvals from facility managers to map private daycare centers, nursing homes and other non-school locations, and that the grant submission deadline was noon on March 4.

The board asked staff to prioritize critical facilities (nursing homes, community centers, daycares) and to return with a completed document listing which organizations had granted permission. Staff said if full funding is not received, work would be prioritized by available grant amounts; the project requires no county match and would only proceed if funding is awarded.

Board members expressed support for the safety-focused mapping project and no immediate vote was required at the meeting; staff will bring a finalized application and list of participating facilities to the next meeting for approval.