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City of DeKalb, County awarded over $100K in COVID-19 relief grants for overtime pay, PPE costs

DeKALB – The city of DeKalb and DeKalb County municipal governments have been awarded a collective $100,000 from the United States Department of Justice for COVID-19 pandemic relief, which will go to paying overtime, hiring personnel, buying personal protective equipment and more.

The funding was announced Wednesday according to a news release, as part of the Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental Funding program through the DOJ.

The city of DeKalb was awarded $49,712 and DeKalb County was awarded $58,008.

Potential uses include hiring personnel, paying overtime, purchasing protective equipment, and distributing resources to hard-hit areas, the release states.

Funds also can be used to help correctional facilities cover costs related to the virus, including, but not limited to, sanitation, contagion prevention and measures designed to address the related medical needs of inmates, detainees and correctional personnel.

“The Justice Department remains committed to helping offset the enormous costs incurred by local municipalities in the fight against COVID-19,” U.S. Attorney John Lausch said in the release. “These important federal funds will provide critical resources to the city of Rockford and other municipalities throughout northern Illinois working to keep people safe during the pandemic.”

The DOJ will continue to award grants on a rolling basis and aims to have funds available as soon as possible after receiving applications, the release states.

Local jurisdictions can determine if they are eligible and apply immediately by visiting the website of the Bureau of Justice Assistance, a component of the Office of Justice Programs.

“The outbreak of COVID-19 and the public health emergency it created are sobering reminders that even the most routine duties performed by our nation’s public safety officials carry potentially grave risks,” OJP principal deputy assistant attorney general Katharine T. Sullivan said in the release. “These funds will provide hard-hit communities with critical resources to help mitigate the impact of this crisis and give added protection to the brave professionals charged with keeping citizens safe.”

OJP provides federal leadership, grants, training, technical assistance and other resources to improve the nation’s capacity to prevent and reduce crime, assist victims, and enhance the rule of law by strengthening the criminal and juvenile justice systems.

For information about OJP and its components, visit its website at www.ojp.gov.

Source: The Daily Chronicle

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