Alexandria, VA – The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International has received a grant award in the amount of $45,000 from Motorola Solutions Foundation. The grant is being administered through APCO’s Commercial Advisory Council (CAC) Scholarship Program, which makes scholarship funds available to public safety communications professionals who participate in APCO Institute training and certification courses.

Scholarship funds may be used for all APCO Institute courses, as well as the Registered Public-Safety Leader (RPL) and Certified Public-Safety Executive (CPE) programs. Up to $500 of a scholarship award may be applied to travel or living expenses to attend an APCO International educational event, including APCO’s Annual Conference & Expo. Scholarship funds must be used between July 1, 2017 and June 30, 2018.

“We wholeheartedly support innovation that enhances public safety,” said Matt Blakely, executive director of the Motorola Solutions Foundation. “The programs we’re supporting will benefit a broad range of communities served by law enforcement officers and staff, fire service personnel, federal agents, emergency medical service providers and our men and women in the military services – both active duty and veterans.”

The foundation gave $3.45 million to 83 organizations in 2016, which will benefit about one million first responders and community members.

The Motorola Solutions Foundation serves as an investor and convener on issues that affect the safety of communities around the world, providing leadership in the sector to drive innovation and engage the network of those interested in these issues.

“Thanks to the Motorola Foundation’s continued support, APCO International will once again be able to offer scholarships to public safety practitioners so that they can participate in the vital training they need to effectively serve their communities,” said APCO International President Cheryl J. Greathouse. “We appreciate the opportunity that this grant provides us to once again offer individuals in our industry with certification and professional development opportunities.”

As the largest provider of public safety communications training in the world, the APCO Institute plays a key role in enhancing safety and security for first responders and the communities they serve. This is the sixth year that the Foundation has awarded a grant to the Institute for scholarships.

APCO International® (www.apcointl.org)
APCO International is the world’s oldest and largest organization of public safety communications professionals and supports the largest U.S. membership base of any public safety association. It serves the needs of public safety communications practitioners worldwide – and the welfare of the general public as a whole – by providing complete expertise, professional development, technical assistance, advocacy and outreach.