The communications facility will help support an emergency dispatch facility across 11 towns in Fairfield County — towns that would, under the circumstances of a natural or man-made disaster, forge together to help save people's lives.

Thanks to the grant, this region's aging communications infrastructure will receive a complete, state-of-the-art overhaul.

In addition to the $6 million in federal money, the city has pledged to contribute $2 million to the center.

As the events of 9-11 and the chaos in the wake of last month's Hurricane Katrina have taught us, the most valuable asset for law enforcement and rescue operators during a crisis is the ability to communicate.

And the need for improved communications isn't limited only to national catastrophes like Katrina or a terrorist attack. One of the major hindrances during the fiery explosion on Interstate 95 after a tanker truck was struck by an automobile was the inability for Bridgeport's neighboring communities to easily communicate with each other.

The grant came after some very proactive lobbying by Fabrizi and city officials in meetings set up by Shays. The mayor and a group of Bridgeport representatives traveled to Capitol Hill this year to work on improving their grant application.

Clearly, it paid off. And the region will be better off because of it.