Centre County tables public safety grant, approves cybersecurity funding and human services contracts

BELLEFONTE -- The Centre County Board of Commissioners convened Tuesday morning to table a major public safety grant, advance cybersecurity initiatives and authorize multiple emergency communication and human services contracts.

The board tabled a grant agreement for $2,000,000 in United States Department of Agriculture Community Facilities funding. This funding is dedicated to the Public Safety Training Center and Health Sciences Project.

Commissioners approved an application for the 2025 State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program through the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency. The grant provides up to $60,000 for a cybersecurity assessment scheduled between September 2025 and August 2029, funded by $36,000 in federal funds and a $24,000 county match.

"With cybersecurity assessments, we should have one at regular intervals, and it's not really prudent to wait a couple of years to go without one," a spokesperson said.

In emergency communications action, the board addressed two maintenance agreements for the county's 911 infrastructure. An approved $9,525.05 contract with Eaton Corporation will provide yearly maintenance, firmware updates and 24/7 reliability center monitoring for the UPS system through Aug. 14, 2027. Additionally, a $91,539.72 state-funded contract with Mobile Communications America, Inc. for 9-1-1 phone system maintenance was added to next week's consent agenda.

"This maintenance plan includes one annual preventive maintenance, and inspection of equipment, realignments and any firmware updates," a 911 spokesperson said.

In planning and administrative business, the board approved the advertisement of Ordinance 2 of 2026, which implements Act 29 of 2026 requirements by establishing a county property contact information list. Commissioners also advanced a Memorandum of Understanding to next week's consent agenda for the final subdivision plan of Cedar Run Development in Potter Township, encompassing 12 residential lots. Furthermore, the board approved a letter of support for a Penn State project titled, "Measuring and Evaluating Rural Broadband Access, Affordability and Policy Impacts in Pennsylvania."

Under Human Services, the board approved this week's consent agenda, finalizing several mental health and early intervention service contracts. Action items included a $100,000 contract renewal with Blair Therapies for early intervention services including occupational, physical and speech therapy, as well as a $60,000 contract renewal with Cen-Clear Child Service, Inc. for early intervention and speech pathology services.

The board also advanced contract addendums to expand psychiatric services. This included a $6,555 addendum with Community Services Group, increasing their maximum allocation to $60,555 for psychiatric rehabilitation services, and an $11,000 addendum with Crossroads Counseling, Inc., raising their total allocation to $48,000 for psychiatric and psychotherapy services.