Nesquehoning has been awarded $75,000 in state funds to use toward purchasing digital radios for its borough first responders; however, that amount will only cover a few of what is needed for the radio changeover.

On Wednesday, council discussed the award, which comes from the Local Share Account statewide program that aims to distribute gaming revenue to projects that support community and economic development.

“That $75,000 isn’t going to get us a lot of radios,” Councilwoman Lois Kuba said, noting that these types of radios are currently going for about $13,000 apiece and that there is essentially one provider who supplies these radios.

“It’s almost like a mini computer,” John McArdle, Nesquehoning Hose Company fire chief, said.

“So is an iPhone,” said Council President Bruce Nalesnik.

“It’s the flexibility and everything,” McArdle responded. “Once they go, they encrypt it so you’re not going to hear anything. It’s going to save a lot for security and everything else like that.”

The $75,000 will cover approximately five radios. The borough needs approximately 52 portable radios and 16 mobile radios for its three fire departments.

Police Chief Brad Hess noted mobile radios for the police vehicles have already been purchased through a grant Carbon County received earlier this year.

Hess said that the county is really pushing municipalities to get the new radios purchased, adding that they are no longer servicing the old radio towers, which is causing a strain on the towns at this time.

“They’re putting our feet to the flames where we’re going to have to eventually switch over to these new radios,” he said.

He added that the radio company has provided a few test radios to try out.

“It’s like night and day,” Hess said. “It’s so much better than what we have and it will be encrypted.”

Hess and McArdle will be meeting with a representative from the radio company regarding the borough’s purchase.

Borough council also passed a resolution for Nesquehoning Hose Company seeking to file a Pennsylvania Department of Community and Natural Resources grant for the purchase of digital radios.

The reason for the need to upgrade radios is due to Carbon County moving all emergency services to a digital system, much like Schuylkill County operates on. That will allow for better communications between the two counties when responding to emergency calls across county lines.

In 2025, the county was awarded $465,000 from the LSA grants to purchase radios for the 16 law enforcement agencies in the county.

The amount awarded was half of what the county had applied for. At that time, the radios cost around $10,000, however tariffs have since pushed the cost higher.

Earlier this year, Carbon County already received $2.1 million in federal funds to be used toward the communications center migrating from analog to a digital radio system.