Ohio State Fire Marshal Announces $4 Million in MARCS Grant Funding

State Fire Marshal Announces $4 Million in Grant Funding to Help Ohio Fire Departments Modernize Radio Communications Equipment

Applications are now open for the Ohio Department of Commerce Division of State Fire Marshal‘s 2026 MARCS (Multi-Agency Radio Communications System) Grant. This year, $4 million is available in funding to help eligible fire departments purchase the state-of-the-art technology.

The MARCS radio system provides statewide, secure, reliable public service wireless communication for first responders. It allows first responders to seamlessly communicate with each other, as well as with other agencies that may be responding to an incident. Costs to acquire and operate the radio systems can quickly add up, making them cost prohibitive. The Division’s MARCS Grant program is important because it helps to ensure fire departments of all sizes can access these valuable tools.

Online applications for the grant will be accepted through Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025, at com.ohio.gov/grants. The MARCS Grant application packet can be found here, along with a guidance document that explains the necessary information needed in order for a department to be considered.

“This grant is vital to some of our smaller fire departments around the state that simply do not have the financial resources needed to invest in this kind of public safety technology,” said State Fire Marshal Kevin Reardon. “This system allows our first responders to better communicate and coordinate with other response agencies, which is vital to saving lives in the event of an emergency. Simply put, this funding is critically important to helping departments better serve their communities and keep their residents safe.”

The MARCS Grant is available annually to Ohio fire departments with service areas of 25,000 people or fewer. Up to $50,000 is available per department through the grant.

Last year, 229 fire departments in 71 counties received a combined total of nearly $4 million in MARCS Grant funding. Since 2020, the Division of State Fire Marshal has awarded approximately $20.5 million to fire departments through the MARCS Grant program.

For additional details on recipients of the MARCS Grant as well as the Division’s other grant programs that support Ohio’s fire service, visit the Division’s interactive grants dashboard at com.ohio.gov/SFMDashboard.

###

About the Division of State Fire Marshal

The Division of State Fire Marshal is part of the Ohio Department of Commerce. The department is Ohio’s chief regulatory agency, focused on promoting prosperity and protecting what matters most to Ohioans. We ensure businesses follow the laws that help them create jobs and keep Ohioans safe. To learn more about what we do, visit our website at com.ohio.gov.