For Immediate Release

Thursday, Oct. 4, 2018

Contact: Benjamin Paulin
Phone: 781-428-3299
Email: ben@jgpr.net

Holbrook Regional Emergency Communications Center Receives Grant to Begin Construction on Building Addition

HOLBROOK — Director of Communications Stephen Hooke is pleased to announce that the Holbrook Regional Emergency Communications Center has received a grant from the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security and the State 911 Department for the expansion of its regional communications facility. 

The regional communications center received the $1.939 million in September and will help to break ground and fund the construction of an addition to the Holbrook Public Safety Building that currently houses the HRECC.

The planned 5,260 square foot expansion will provide space for up to 12 dispatch consoles and dramatically increase the equipment room space available for any future equipment upgrades.

The Holbrook Regional Emergency Communications Center currently includes the member communities of Holbrook, Abington, Whitman, Rockland, Canton and Sharon. Additionally, the HRECC serves as Norfolk County Fire Control and as the host of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Department of Fire Services and HAZMAT EAST Control Point.

“Right now we have five dispatch stations and once the construction of the addition is complete we will have up to 12 dispatch stations,” Hooke said. “This will give us the ability to potentially bring on more communities and expand our services.”

An improved regional communications center will increase public safety preparedness response and operational benefits, enhance the array of services provided to dispatch entities and increase the capacity for coordination of local and regional police, fire and EMS resources, including response to routine events and major disasters.

Phase 1 of the construction project is expected to begin in the late spring or early summer.

Last year the HRECC received a $1.2 million grant from the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security and the State 911 Department to upgrade equipment and bring on Rockland’s dispatch communications services.

“We are so excited and fortunate to be one of a handful of communications centers in the state to be recipients of the FY19 Development Grant,” said Deputy Director of Communications Lauren Mielke. “The funding received through this grant will allow our operation to expand not only physically but technologically as well.”

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