Washington DC - Federal grants totaling more than $1.2 million and a $200,000 loan will benefit five projects in Minnesota's 8th Congressional District. "This funding represents significant investment in our communities; it will make our communities safer and help educate our children," said Congressman Jim Oberstar.
The largest grant of $859,000 comes from the U.S. Department of Justice's Rural Law Enforcement Assistance Program - it will allow Kanabec County to hire eleven corrections officers for its new county jail. "The actual appropriation of funds for this grant came from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act," said Oberstar. "This grant will put people to work and help hold down property taxes in Kanabec County."
The City of Duluth was awarded a grant of $242,000 from the Justice Department's Edward Byrne Grant Program to improve its forensic evidence department. Two forensic evidence technicians will be hired and additional training will be provided for other police officers. "The Byrne Grant Program has helped communities across the nation obtain the latest equipment and training," said Oberstar.
The City of Floodwood's rural designation made it eligible for a grant of $134,000 and a low interest loan of $209,000 from the Rural Development Administration. The funding will help add a new police department headquarters to its city hall building.
Grants from the National Institute of Health have been awarded to enhance education in Minnesota's 8th District. The Leech Lake Tribal College will receive $80,000 for its Woodlands Wisdom Science Curriculum Program. The College of St. Scholastica will receive $24,000 to provide scholarship for disabled students.
