U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Northern West Virginia issued the following announcement on April 1.
The Department of Justice announced that it is making $850 million available to help public safety agencies respond to the challenges posed by the outbreak of COVID-19. The Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental Funding program, authorized by the recent stimulus legislation signed by Presidtident Trump, will allow eligible state, local and tribal governments to apply immediately for these critical funds. The department is moving quickly to make awards, with the goal of having funds available for drawdown within days of the award.
U.S. Attorney Bill Powell, Northern District of West Virginia, is encouraging all who are eligible to apply.
“We are facing a threat like we have not seen for decades. It is a nationwide threat. It is a community threat. This money will help our law enforcement community during these difficult times, and assist with public safety. I encourage all who can apply for these funds to apply. I know the release of these funds will be expedited to the greatest extent possible,” said Powell.
“This is an unprecedented moment in our nation’s history and an especially dangerous one for our front-line law enforcement officers, corrections officials, and public safety professionals,” said Office of Justice Programs Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Katharine T. Sullivan. “We are grateful to the Congress for making these resources available and for the show of support this program represents.”
The solicitation, posted by the Bureau of Justice Assistance in the Justice Department’s Office of Justice Programs (OJP), will remain open for at least 60 days and be extended as necessary. OJP will fund successful applicants as a top priority on a rolling basis as applications are received. Funds may be used to hire personnel, pay overtime costs, cover protective equipment and supplies, address correctional inmates’ medical needs and defray expenses related to the distribution of resources to hard-hit areas, among other activities. Grant funds may be applied retroactively to Jan. 20, 2020, subject to federal supplanting rules.
Agencies that were eligible for the fiscal year 2019 State and Local Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program are candidates for this emergency funding. A complete list of eligible jurisdictions and their allocations can be found at https://bja.ojp.gov/program/fy20-cesf-allocations.
In the Northern District of West Virginia, there is more than $500,000 available to counties and cities. Those municipalities include:
• Berkeley County
• City of Clarksburg
• Harrison County
• Marion County
• City of Martinsburg
• Monongalia County
• City of Morgantown
• Ohio County
• City of Wheeling
Original source can be found here.