WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) announced today that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) awarded a total of $204,100 in rural development grants to Amite, Basile and Athens, Louisiana.

The USDA awarded a $49,600 grant to Amite to purchase police vehicles and police equipment.  Amite also received an $18,800 grant for a new maintenance truck.

Basile received a $47,000 grant to help purchase public safety equipment and maintenance equipment.  This grant will be used to acquire six bulletproof vests, six body cameras and four portable radios for law enforcement in Basile. Basile received another $49,700 grant to purchase two police patrol cars that are better equipped to navigate the town’s gravel roads.

The USDA awarded $39,000 to Athens to purchase a police vehicle and improve public safety services in the town.

“Public safety is a priority for families and community leaders in every city and town across the nation,” said Sen. Kennedy. “The law enforcement in every community needs access to the proper resources to keep residents and their properties safe.  These grants will provide the resources necessary to improve and update public safety equipment in several of Louisiana’s rural communities.”

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