The House-Passed Funding Would Allow the City of Fredericksburg to Enhance Security at Emergency Operations Center, Install New Equipment for Personnel, & Expand Capacity at Emergency Communications Center

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. House of Representatives today voted to pass U.S. Representative Abigail Spanberger’s legislation that would provide $637,195 for renovations, security enhancements, and upgraded equipment to prevent the disruption of government operations at the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) located at the Fredericksburg Police Headquarters.

This investment — which Spanberger secured as part of a House-passed fiscal year (FY)2024 appropriations package — would allow the City of Fredericksburg to upgrade security at the EOC and the E-911 Emergency Communications Center. Additionally, this funding would allow for the installation of new monitors and computer workstations to improve decision making and access to records, files, and electronic communications by EOC personnel. This funding would also allow the City of Fredericksburg to install new consoles for dispatchers to manage an increased number of calls and maintain lines with first responders during emergency situations.

“Public services are the backbone of our community. The City of Fredericksburg is consistently pursuing state and federal grant opportunities to offset the cost of core infrastructure priorities,” said Mayor Kerry P. Devine, City of Fredericksburg. “We have worked recently with the Federal Economic Development Authority at Riverfront Park and received a $1.2 million award, and with the Commonwealth of Virginia on wastewater treatment plant upgrades and received three awards totaling $56 million. This is exciting news that Congresswoman Spanberger has secured an additional $637,000 award for public safety security enhancements and we are grateful to have such support.”

“We are thrilled Representative Spanberger has supported in increasing the security of Fredericksburg’s Emergency Operations Center, which plays a crucial role in providing information quickly to public safety,” said Chief Brian Layton, Fredericksburg Police Department. “This grant will greatly benefit our public safety employees and the entire City of Fredericksburg.”

“Investments that can help keep Virginians safe are smart investments in our communities,” said Spanberger. “Through conversations with officials in Fredericksburg, the impact these federal dollars would make in the community became clear. The professionals and dispatchers who work each day to respond to emergencies and stand ready to assist their neighbors deserve the resources necessary to do their jobs. I’ve been proud to work directly with local administrators and leaders to secure this federal investment to improve Fredericksburg’s ability to respond in emergency situations, support the area’s first responders, and get help to Virginians who need it — without disruption.”

Spanberger worked directly with the City of Fredericksburg to make sure this project was included in this federal funding legislation. The FY2024 appropriations package now goes to the U.S. Senate for further consideration.

Earlier this month, Spanberger secured and President Biden signed into law more than $12.2 million for 14 community-focused projects for infrastructure, transportation, public safety, and accessibility needs in Virginia’s Seventh District.

BACKGROUND

For FY2024, the U.S. House of Representatives allowed for specific Community Project Funding requests — as it did in FY2023. Spanberger worked directly with community leaders in localities across Virginia’s Seventh District to gather community-focused requests for her submissions. Click here for the full list of her submissions.

The Community Project Funding process was created to ensure that Members of Congress — in concert with the communities they represent — may submit direct applications for federal funding to support locally planned projects as part of the yearly appropriations process.

To be eligible, projects must be sponsored by local or state government entities or non-profit organizations and must be projects that would otherwise meet the qualifications to apply for federal grant funding. The purpose of Community Project Funding is to ensure direct, local engagement as part of the federal appropriations process. In line with this goal, funding applications needed to demonstrate significant local support for the projects.

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