Rep. McNally Announces $148K in State Funding for 11 New MARCS Tower Sites, including YSU

COLUMBUS – State Rep. Lauren McNally (D-Youngstown) today announced the awarding of $148,559.40 in state funds for 11 recently constructed Multi-Agency Radio Communications System (MARCS) remote tower sites, including Youngstown State University in Ohio’s 59th district.

“In one of the most unfortunate ways possible, we learned during the East Palestine train derailment how invaluable it is for local first responders to be able to communicate with one another and respond to a mass emergency,” said Rep. McNally. “This is a smart investment that will keep our residents and our safety forces safe.”

Administered by the Ohio Department of Administrative Services (DAS), MARCS provides Ohio first responders and public safety providers with state-of-the-art wireless digital communications and promotes interoperability among Ohio agencies in normal and emergency situations, maximizing effectiveness and saving lives. Operating MARCS includes updating its infrastructure and licenses to ensure functionality and enable the system to accommodate additional users.

The approved request will fund monitoring equipment to outfit 11 recently constructed remote tower sites including Woodstock, JAG, Yale, Wingfoot, Trumbull Ridge, Wadsworth, Berlin, Youngstown State University, Austintown, Boardman and Waynesfield. It will add IMCI technologies’, the sole source provider for any upgrades, additions, or service work, Open-I products, expanding the number of remotely monitored environment systems necessary to ensure proper MARCS system operation.