Jonesborough, Arkansas Police Department Receives DOJ Grant

There’s so much talk about what individuals can do to help slow the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), and how staying home is key to preventing rampant infections and death. But for some, staying home is not an option, and some of those individuals and groups already put themselves in danger every day anyway. Police departments are considered essential and are still going to work, and so it’s important that they are protected during this pandemic. One police department in Arkansas has received a grant from funding allocated under the CARES act for that very purpose.

The Jonesborough Police Department in Jonesborough, Arkansas has received a $100,000 from the U.S Department of Justice, to help keep facilities clean and sanitized as well as other methods of keeping employees safe. This grant is part of coronavirus emergency supplemental funding.

According to officials, these funds will go towards various methods of keeping staff safe including the purchase of personal protective equipment (PPE), UV lighting which has been said to help in treatment, and the purchase of foggers for buildings as well as vehicles. This funding will also go towards an in-depth deep cleaning of all of the department’s facilities.

The funding will be used to protect three facilities in different locations. According to Jonesboro Police Chief Rick Elliott:

“We have three buildings we have to protect – our headquarters on Caraway and the patrol division and Justice Complex on West Washington, so we also have concerns for the public”.

In a press release on Facebook, Elliott also praised the Department of Justice for their quick response to the department’s grant application, saying:

They had a formula, and this grant came to us, It said, ‘You are eligible if you wish to pursue it.’ It was really short. The biggest thing we had to do was come up with a list of things need to buy.”

Stories like this are so great to see in such a chaotic time.

Grants for Arkansas

Currently, GrantWatch has over 700 grants listed in their database for the state of Arkansas. Grants are listed in more than 50 categories for your convenience.