BELCHERTOWN — A $185,030 state grant will add redundancy to the town fiber-optic communications system and complete public safety radio access to two cell towers, according to a release from the governor’s office.

The Healey-Driscoll administration recently announced $4 million in grants through the Community Compact Municipal Fiber grant program, benefiting 32 municipalities and school districts.

Town Administrator Steve Williams said redundancy in the town’s public safety communications is important for continuity of service in case the main loop is damaged by a natural disaster, for example, or vandalism.

Williams said there was no date set for when the work would begin.

“I’m not sure the money’s been transferred yet,” he said.

The grant program aims to support the closing of critical gaps that exist in municipal networks, according to the governor’s office. Awards are focused on connecting municipally owned facilities and helping towns meet goals such as protection from cyberthreats, the expansion of remote work and meeting the expectations of constituents who enjoy the convenience of interacting with government online.

“Massachusetts residents rely on local government to deliver core services daily, and information technology plays a significant role in making that happen,” Gov. Maura Healey said in a statement. “This grant program is one of the many ways we partner with cities and towns to better serve residents, and we are proud to be able to help them improve their municipal broadband infrastructure.”

These grants can be particularly helpful to smaller and more rural communities that lack the resources and infrastructure to meet their information technology needs.

“The Municipal Fiber Grant Program is an important tool to help rural and small towns close the digital divide,” stated Anne Gobi, director of rural affairs for the Executive Office of Economic Development. “We are excited these grants will help communities in our state connect and improve networks for municipal organizations that provide important services to residents, such as schools, libraries, emergency response units, and police stations.”

Last year, Amherst and Easthampton were among those receiving substantial grants to expand or develop municipal fiber networks.

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