Framingham and Natick received $4.33 million grant for regional dispatch center
FRAMINGHAM — A regional dispatch center for Framingham and Natick is another step closer to fruition after the two communities received a $4.33 million grant from the state.
The communities, in a joint press release on Tuesday, announced the grant from the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security and the State 911 Department.
"Combining the dispatch operations of the Framingham Police and Fire Departments into a unified location and establishing of a regional dispatch center has long been a goal," Mayor Charlie Sisistsky said in a statement. "The acquisition of a $4.33 million grant from the commonwealth is a significant step toward equipping and preparing the center for operation. The existing dispatch centers at both the fire and police stations were constrained in space."
Earlier: Framingham City Council votes to create regional fire, police dispatch center
The new dispatch center will be at 188 Concord St. (Route 126), which is beside the Memorial Building. Framingham purchased the building last year for $2 million. The Framingham Health Department and Clinic are on the first floor and the dispatch center will be on the upper floors of the four-story building.
Dispatch services for both Framingham and Natick fire and police
Both the Framingham City Council and the Natick Select Board have approved creating the regional dispatch center. It will house dispatching for both communities' police and fire departments.
“This is an impressive example of what regional, shared services can provide to Massachusetts communities” Natick Town Administrator Jamie Errickson said in a statement. “I’m confident this grant will accelerate this collaborative effort and I look forward to advancing the regional dispatch center with our Framingham partners.”
Framingham Fire Chief Michael Dutcher said he looks forward to having a brand-new dispatch center.
$2M purchase: Framingham invests in downtown building for new dispatch center
“In collaboration with our mutual aid partners, the town of Natick, we will have a state-of-the-art regional emergency communications center that will improve our efficiencies in responding to calls for service," Dutcher said in a statement.
Natick fire chief says collaboration is 'amazing opportunity'
The two communities will share all expenses for the regional dispatch center, as well as responsibilities for construction, operating and maintaining it.
“This collaboration is an amazing opportunity to streamline critical functions and enhance the services we provide to our communities and our first responders.” Natick Fire Chief Jason Ferschke said in a statement.
The dispatch center would be run by an executive director, an independent position that would be an employee of the regional dispatch center, and not directly under the supervision of either municipal leader.
Natick Police Chief James Hicks said the new dispatch center will make everything run more efficiently.
“Our public safety dispatchers have always been the very best and well trained," Hicks said in a statement. "This partnership will build on their professionalism and lead to a more efficient delivery of public safety services to the region. It will also create a career path for these dedicated workers that will help draw more people to this critical position in public safety operations.”
Framingham Police Chief Lester Baker said the new dispatcher will "enhance" what the dispatchers already do.
“It affords us the opportunity to work with our partners in Natick and allows us to update and further professionalize and enhance the great work our current dispatchers already do," he said.
A planned opening date was not released.
Norman Miller can be reached at 508-626-3823 or nmiller@wickedlocal.com. For up-to-date public safety news, follow him on X @Norman_MillerMW or on Facebook at facebook.com/NormanMillerCrime.
This article originally appeared on MetroWest Daily News: Framingham and Natick land $4.33M state grant. How it will be spent
