Framingham-Natick Dispatch Center Gets $4.3 Million In State Grant

News release from City of Framingham.

FRAMINGHAM, MA — The communities of Natick & Framingham were awarded a $4.33 million grant from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to establish a regional 911 emergency communication district between Framingham and Natick for Police and Fire dispatch.

“Combining the dispatch operations of the Framingham Police and Fire departments into a unified location and establishing a regional dispatch center has long been a goal,” said Mayor Charlie Sisitsky. “The acquisition of a $4.33 million grant from the Commonwealth is a significant step towards equipping and preparing the Center for operation. The existing dispatch centers at both the fire and police stations were constrained in space. I want to thank Dana Haagensen, Director of Administration & Finance for the Framingham Fire Department, for taking the lead on this grant.”

“This is an impressive example of what regional, shared services can provide to Massachusetts communities,” said Natick Town Administrator Jamie Errickson. “I’m confident that this grant will accelerate this collaborative effort and I look forward to advancing the Regional Dispatch Center with our Framingham partners.”

“We are very pleased to have been awarded the grant from the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security and the State 911 Department,” said Framingham Fire Chief Michael Dutcher. “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.”

“We are so grateful to the 911 Department for approving and accepting us into the grant program. The City administration has been working on this diligently along with our partners in Natick and I can’t wait to start the construction of our Regional Dispatch Center,” said City of Framingham Chief Operating Officer Michael Tusino.

The dispatch center is planned to be situated in the office building next to the Memorial Building, located on Route 126 in downtown Framingham.

The City of Framingham purchased 188 Concord Street in March 2023. The Framingham Health Department & Clinic opened on the first floor earlier this spring, and the dispatch center will be located on the upper floors of the 4-story building.

Both the Framingham City Council and the Natick Select Board voted to support the regional municipal 911 emergency communication center.

Framingham and Natick, the current participating communities, will share the expenses, duties, and responsibilities of constructing, operating, and maintaining the regional municipal 911 emergency communication facility under a forthcoming agreement between the Town of Natick and the City of Framingham.

“I would like to thank the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security State 911 Department for supporting this important effort through its grant program," said Natick Police Chief James Hicks. “Our Public Safety Dispatchers have always been the very best and well trained. 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.”

“On behalf of the entire Police Department, I would like to thank the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security and the State 911 Department for giving us this grant,” said Framingham Police Chief Lester Baker. “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.”

“This collaboration is an amazing opportunity to streamline critical functions and enhance the services we provide to our communities and our first responders,” said Natick Fire Chief Jason Ferschke. “We are grateful to the Executive Office of Public Safety and the State 911 Department for this opportunity.”

The dispatch center is planned to be situated in the office building next to the Memorial Building, located on Route 126 in downtown Framingham.