Prairie SHIELD Regional Alliance

PRESS RELEASE December 7, 2007
The Prairie SHIELD Regional Alliance, an association of Police, Sheriffs, Fire and Emergency Management Local Government Agencies is proud to announce receiving a grant award from the State of $5.1 Million for first responder communications equipment.

After a highly competitive grant review process in which there were 33 applications, the Prairie SHIELD proposal was ranked #1 by review panels and is receiving the largest amount of funds. The recent announcement of federal dollars under the "PSIC" grant (or Public Safety Interoperable Communications Program) has enable local governments across the United States the opportunity to receive funding to update legacy voice communications equipment.

The Prairie SHIELD Regional Alliance was founded in 2005 and is composed of Boone, McHenry, Dekalb, Ogle, Winnebago and Stephenson Counties. The City of Rockford, Rockford Airport, Rock Valley College, and the cities of Belvidere, Dekalb, Freeport, Rochelle, Sycamore, and the Villages of Cherry Valley, Machesney Park and Rockton are members. Additional members include Fire Districts in Boone County, Harlem-Roscoe Fire District, Boone County Conservation District, Belvidere School District #100, and the Illinois Public Safety Agency Network. The organization is accepting new members. The mission of the alliance is to collaborate and seek the most cost-effective and efficient means to allow first responders or related public entities to communicate on a voice, date, and video platform with interoperable capability. This new grant is based on regional projects with voice communication emphasis.

Other successes include a $170,000 federal earmark award by Congressman Don Manzullo in 2006 for equipment. First responders from the six county region have also participated in "focus group" seesions in which problem associated with interoperability was discussed. From those meetings various planning documents were written and a technology called "Starcom 21" selected. A Motorola product, Starcom 21 is a new radio system that enables first responders to communicate with multiple agencies in a secure and survivable environment. With additional equipment called "repeaters" fire personnel can use existing radios and talk inside most multiple story buildings.

As the initiative moves forward to achieve its goal of secure communications for first responders, special thanks must be stated for Congressman Don Manzullo and our consultants, Roaming Intelligence (Buffalo Grove). For more information, call Boone County Administrator Ken Terrinoni, Project Leader at 815-547-4770.

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The Mission of the Prairie SHIELD Regional Alliance: "The Prairie SHIELD partners shall endeavor to collaborate and seek the most cost-effective and efficient means to allow first responders or related public entities to communicate on a voice, data, and video platform with interoperability capability. In implementing this mission, Prairie SHIELD shall act as a unified group and assist other similar efforts at the state and national level to accomplish this goal."

The events of September 11, 2001 and Hurricane Katrina have reinforced the responsibility of local governments to protect the life and property of its citizens. First responders must be prepared to react to possible terror incidents as well as natural disasters. Critical to this mission is the technology used by first responders and related agencies to communicate, share information, and function together. Recent advances in technology will enable first responders to speak, exchange data, and even use video all on one platform both at the scene and at remote command/dispatch centers. With this long-term goal in mind, Prairie SHIELD Regional Alliance was formed. Those participating are:

County of Boone County of Dekalb County of McHenry County of Ogle County of Stephenson County of Winnebago City of Belvidere Village of Cherry Valley City of Dekalb City of Freeport Village of Machesney Park City of Rochelle

City of Rockford Village of Rockton Rockford Airport Belvidere School District #100 Rock Valley College Fire District No. 1 (Boone County) Fire District No. 2 (Boone County) Fire District No. 3 (Boone County) Harlem-Roscoe Fire District Exelon (ComEd) City of Sycamore Boone County Conservation District IPSAN

For more information call the Boone County Administration Office 815-547-4770.

Disclaimer   The information on this site is meant to provide an additional source of news about the Boone County Board and its activities. It is subject to change and is not a substitute for any official agenda, statement or official meeting. All notice requirements must still be done in accordance with the existing law and those citizens who discuss issues before the Boone County Board should follow the established procedure. For any further questions, please call the County Adminstration Office at (815) 547-4770.

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