Gov. Shapiro Visits Montco, Calls For $50M In 911 Centers, Fire, EMS Investments

EAGLEVILLE, PA — Former Montgomery County Commissioner and new governor Josh Shapiro returned to his home region Thursday to visit the county's 911 center in Eagleville and highlight the proposed investments in fire and emergency management services in his first budget.

Shapiro toured the facility and spoke alongside current Commissioner Ken Lawrence Jr. and the head of the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania, Venango County Commissioner Chip Abramovich.

"I know firsthand how our local municipal and county governments are on the frontlines of keeping their communities safe, and they need our support now more than ever," Gov. Shapiro said during the event. "My budget will ensure we do more to empower those on the frontlines overseeing our emergency response efforts."

The Eagleville center has served the region for 67 years, coordinating emergency response.

Shapiro's budget calls for $50 million to improve county 911 centers and systems across the state. Some $36 million would be devoted specifically to training, equipment, and staffing for firefighters and EMS.

911 centers answered more than 15 million requests for services in 2021, according to state officials.

Jennifer Cass, the Deputy Director of Emergency Communications for Montgomery County, said "welcome home" to Shapiro and praised that part of his budget.

"The heart of our 9-1-1 system is composed of county- based 9-1-1 centers and their highly trained staff of telecommunicators," she said. "The 9-1-1 fee is the primary funding source for our critical 9-1-1 systems and personnel that provide lifesaving services every day."

Authorities also highlighted the shortages in key frontline workers, including first responders and 911 dispatchers. These decreases were exacerbated by the pandemic, but the trends predate coronavirus. There were 22,000 fewer volunteer firefighters in Pennsylvania in 2018 than in the early 2000s, the state said.