U. S. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $25,000 for the Village of Johnson City in Broome County. The funding was allocated through the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Economic Impact Initiative Program. Specifically, the Village Johnson City will use the funding to purchase a new 2017 patrol SUV and an unmarked 2017 police vehicle. The vehicles will be used by officers to respond to calls for service within the patrol zones in the village and to conduct all routing patrol activities in order to promote safety within the village for the 15,174 residents.
“This federal USDA grant is great news for the Village of Johnson City and the Johnson City Police Department,” said Senator Schumer. “These new vehicles will help our first responders keep residents safe. It is vital that local communities have the tools and facilities needed to grow and prosper, and the federal government should be a full partner in that effort through programs like this one from USDA Rural Development. I will continue to fight to make sure local communities have the tools and resources they need to keep residents safe.”
“These federal funds will help the brave men and women in the Johnson City Police Department do their work effectively and safely,” said Senator Gillibrand. “They put their lives on the line every day, and it’s our responsibility to make sure they have what they need to protect the people around them while also protecting themselves. I will continue to do everything in my power to make sure more of our local police departments have the equipment and resources they need to keep their communities safe.”
“The awarding of $25,000 to the Village of Johnson City takes a significant bite out of the cost of purchasing a new marked police patrol vehicle and an unmarked detective car. Our police department fleet is in great need of these vehicles as some of our older cars desperately need to be replaced. The Village board has done a good job of keeping under the tax cap, but we department heads must make sacrifices and actively seek alternative sources of funding for that to continue to happen. This grant money will allow us to purchase the vehicles we need while at the same time being responsible with the budget. I would like to thank Senator Schumer and the USDA for providing grant opportunities such as this which help us obtain the equipment we need to better serve the public,” said Chief Brent Dodge, Johnson City Police Department.
USDA Rural Development’s mission is to increase economic opportunity and improve the quality of life for rural residents. This funding is awarded through the Economic Impact Initiative, administered by the USDA’s Rural Development agency. The Rural Development agency is committed to improving economies and lives in rural America, through loans, grants and loan guarantees. They support local businesses, individuals and communities by promoting economic development, offering loans and providing technical assistance.