Kip Kendrick, Presiding Commissioner

Justin Aldred, District I Commissioner

Janet Thompson, District II Commissioner

Roger B. Wilson

Boone County Government Center

801 E. Walnut St., Rm 333

Columbia, MO 65201-7732

(573) 886-4305 (573) 886-4311

Boone County
Commission

Boone County News Release

Boone County Commission Launches Radio Grant Program to Support Local Public Safety Agencies

COLUMBIA, Mo. (October 20, 2025) - Boone County Commission has announced the launch of the Radio Grant Program, which aims to help local public safety agencies secure the end-user equipment needed for the county's new Public Safety Radio System.

The program will provide funding assistance for handheld and in-vehicle radios to ensure agencies across Boone County are fully equipped to operate on the new 800 MHz P25 Phase 2 system, which will replace the current VHF radio network in mid- to late-2026. The Radio Grant Program is designed to promote interoperability, enhance emergency communications, and reduce the financial burden on partner agencies during this transition.

"We're very excited about the radio system upgrade and its impact on public safety across Boone County," said Presiding Commissioner Kip Kendrick. "This grant program, while costly, is critical to helping our law enforcement, fire, and EMS partners afford radios that will fully integrate with the new system. It's a collaborative effort to keep the County moving forward together."

The 800 MHz P25 system represents a major upgrade from Boone County's current VHF radio network. While the current VHF system continues to provide countywide interoperability, it no longer meets the operational needs of the public safety community. The new system will expand interoperability by allowing all law, fire, EMS, and emergency management agencies to communicate on a unified and digitally managed platform. Key improvements include enhanced radio clarity with reduced background noise, expanded in-building coverage, seamless roaming and talkgroup management, increased capacity to handle large-scale incidents and multi-agency coordination, secure communications with future encryption, and built-in redundancy.

Because of the technology shift from VHF to 800 MHz Phase 2, most existing radios are not compatible with the new system. The Radio Grant Program was developed to bridge this gap by providing financial support for agencies to replace their end-user radios with equipment that meets County specification and encryption requirements.

Boone County Joint Communications has met with the eligible agencies and will base funding on a comprehensive operational needs assessment and established allocation matrix. These agencies include law enforcement, fire, EMS, and other public safety organizations operating within Boone County. The estimated expenditure to assist partner agencies will likely exceed $11 million, which is being funded through the County's 911 sales tax.

The new radio system is expected to be deployed in mid- to late-2026, providing expanded coverage, improved reliability, increased redundancy, and stronger interoperability among all first responders in Boone County.

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