ELLSWORTH – Hancock County is eligible for close to $300,000 in grant money from the state for security purposes and may seek to use the funds to buy an expensive computer dispatching program, according to state officials.

The program would streamline computer programs now in use at the county’s regional communications center and could cost anywhere from $60,000 to $150,000, depending on whether new computer hardware also would be needed, according to Hancock County Communications Director Linda Dunno.

Ralph Pinkham, the county’s emergency management director, said Tuesday that the county is eligible to receive up to $298,780. The funds come from the federal Department of Homeland Security but are administered by Maine Emergency Management Agency, he said.

The county cannot do whatever it wants with the money, according to Pinkham. He said it has to receive at least three bids for whatever it wants to buy with the money and then must apply to MEMA to receive the funds.

“It’s very well-controlled, as it should be,” Pinkham said of the grant process.

According to Dunno, the computer-assisted dispatching program would allow dispatchers at the county’s RCC to consolidate the multiple databases they deal with now. Dunno said Tuesday it could be customized to address the specific demands of emergency response in Hancock County, such as keeping track of where hazardous materials are located and what sort of emergency vehicles may be available.

“It allows less personnel to handle more situations,” Dunno said. “It’s a lot of work setting it up, but it’s great once you’ve got it going.”

Pinkham said other uses for which the county could apply to use the money include increased security at area schools or hospitals or at the county’s airport in Trenton. For example, the grant money could go toward improving electronic communications between hospitals in the county or toward additional training for first responder agencies in the county, he said.

Bar Harbor Fire Chief David Rand said Wednesday that Bar Harbor is eligible for up to $93,000 of grant money separate from the county’s share. He said Bar Harbor officials do not have a wish list for how they plan to spend the money but are scheduled to meet May 21 with county and state officials to determine how Bar Harbor can best put the funds to use.

Ellsworth Assistant Fire Chief Jon Marshall said Wednesday that Ellsworth is eligible for up to $58,000 in additional grant funds. He said that the money will be used to help protect the city’s infrastructure and to improve the city’s ability to respond to emergency situations.

Marshall said Ellsworth’s department heads would meet with City Manager Stephen Gunty to determine the specific uses for which Ellsworth will apply to the state to use the money.