State Fire Marshal Announces 2026 MARCS Grant Recipients

State Fire Marshal Announces 2026 MARCS Grant Recipients

Nearly 200 Ohio fire departments will receive upgraded emergency radio equipment thanks to the 2026 MARCS (Multi-Agency Radio Communications Systems) Grant. The Ohio Department of Commerce Division of State Fire Marshal has awarded nearly $4 million to 198 departments across 63 counties.

The MARCS system provides secure, statewide communication for first responders, allowing agencies to coordinate seamlessly during emergencies. Grants of up to $50,000 are available annually to departments serving 25,000 residents or fewer. Since 2020, more than $24 million has been distributed through the program. For additional details, click here.

Township recipients include: Trumbull (Ashtabula); Carthage, Rome, Waterloo (Athens); Ross (Butler); Bethel, Harmony (Clark); Liverpool (Columbiana); Bucyrus, Dallas, Holmes, Jefferson, Liberty, Lykens, Whetstone (Crawford); Greenville, Liberty (Darke); Highland, Ney-Washington, Noble (Defiance); Clearcreek (Fairfield); Concord-Green, Jefferson, Wayne (Fayette); Greenfield, Springfield (Gallia); Allen, Blanchard, Delaware, Liberty, Washington (Hancock); Killbuck, Paint, Richland (Holmes); Hamilton, Liberty (Jackson); Monroe (Knox, Licking); Windsor (Lawrence); Range (Madison); Falls, Wayne–Duncan Falls (Muskingum); Monday Creek, Thorn (Perry); Pickaway (Pickaway); Benton, Scioto (Pike); Riley (Putnam); Springfield (Richland); Springfield, Twin, Union (Ross); Morgan, Nile, Union (Scioto); Osnaburg (Stark); Franklin, Massie (Warren); Canaan (Wayne); Brady, Springfield (Williams); Grand Rapids, Weston (Wood); and Wharton-Richland (Wyandot).

This first appeared in the March/April 2026 issue of the Ohio Township News magazine. Contact the OTA at communications@ohiotownships.org to submit your township stories.