A $1.5 million state grant announced this week will go to the Dukes County sheriff to help upgrade the aging county-wide emergency dispatch communications system.

Sheriff Robert Ogden said the grant will provide most of the funding for the first phase in a three-phase project to overhaul and upgrade communications infrastructure.

The Martha’s Vineyard Commission was expected to possibly vote Thursday night on a plan to build a new communications tower at the Oak Bluffs landfill as part of the project.

The communications center provides dispatch services for 67 agencies county-wide.

In a press release, the sheriff thanked Gov. Charlie Baker’s office and others for recognizing the urgent need around the project.