AVON — Avon Police Chief Jeffrey Bukunt, Fire Chief David Charest and Town Administrator Jonathan Beder are pleased to announce that Avon’s public safety departments will receive a share of an $8.8 million state grant to aid Avon’s transition to the Holbrook Regional Emergency Communications Center (HRECC).
The HRECC was recently awarded a substantial grant of $8,838,644 from the Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety and Security (EOPSS), through the Fiscal Year 2027 State 911 Department Regional Public Safety Answering Point and Regional Secondary Public Safety Answering Point and Regional Emergency Communications Center Development Grant Program.
“This funding recognizes the value of regional emergency communications and the benefits the HRECC transition will bring to Avon,” said Chief Bukunt. “State 911 Department grant funding is vital as we transition to the HRECC, and our entire community will be better protected following this shift.”
The Town of Avon will receive $252,350, the Avon Police Department will receive $170,073, and the Avon Fire Department will receive $114,251 to help fund HRECC transition expenses and security measures.
“Avon’s first responders know through experience that state-of-the-art emergency communications are essential to our core mission of protecting public safety,” said Chief Charest. “We’re forging important partnerships with neighboring departments as we transition to the HRECC, and this investment is helping us strengthen public safety throughout the region.”
A portion of the grant will fund the acquisition of more than $5 million in new equipment, and support the further integration of Avon and several other towns into HRECC, including Dover, East Bridgewater, Fairhaven, Holliston, Norwood, Sherborn, Stoughton and Sudbury.
“This initiative is all about smaller towns working together to provide the highest possible public safety protection to our residents,” said Town Administrator Beder. “We’re incredibly grateful to the state for helping to fund our transition to the HRECC. Our ability to effectively communicate during emergencies is one of the most important services we provide to our community. This transition would be far more difficult without assistance from the Commonwealth.”
The funding will bolster security measures for Avon Police and Fire, as well as facilitate the acquisition of critical equipment necessary to enhance 911 services.
“HRECC is widely recognized as a model for future regional dispatch centers, but operating a regional emergency communications center requires substantial investment,” said HRECC Director Steve Hooke. “This grant will help us continue providing reliable, high-quality 911 services while supporting additional communities as they join HRECC.”
The grant contract began on July 1 and runs through June 30, 2027. This funding will be used in accordance with the Development Grant Guidelines to ensure that all initiatives are aligned with the provision of enhanced 911 services.
“Our path to success would be far more difficult without this vital State 911 Department grant,” Hooke said. “The region’s first responders, our municipal partners, and all of our communities will directly benefit from this investment.”
For more information about the Holbrook Regional Emergency Communications Center and its initiatives, please visit HRECC’s website.
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