BOUCHER SECURES MORE THAN $180,000 FOR WISE COUNTY FIRST RESPONDERS

Federal Funding Will Purchase Police Cars and Equipment for the Appalachia, Coeburn and Pound Police Departments

            (Washington, D.C.) - U.S. Representative Rick Boucher announced today that, at his urging, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, through its Rural Development agency, is providing a total of more than $180,000 to Wise County police departments for new vehicles and equipment. The federal funding will benefit the Appalachia, Coeburn and Pound Police Departments.

            "The three provisions of federal funding announced today will be used to purchase police cars for the Appalachia and Pound Police Departments and to purchase new communications equipment for the Coeburn Police Department," Boucher said.

            The Rural Development Agency is providing a total of $110,000 to the Town of Pound for the purchase of four new, fully outfitted police cars. Of that total amount, $50,000 will be provided as a federal grant and $60,000 will be in the form of a low-interest federal loan. Additionally, the Rural Development Agency is providing a total of $50,000 to the Town of Appalachia for the purchase of two new, fully outfitted police cars. Of that total amount, $37,500 will be provided as a grant, and $12,500 will be provided as a low-interest federal loan. The new vehicles will replace older models currently in use by both departments.

            The Rural Development Agency is also providing a grant of $22,070 to the Town of Coeburn to purchase new communications equipment. The federal funds will purchase a radio repeater, which will allow the Police Department to communicate on a frequency separate from the Sherriff's office. With the benefit of the federal funds, the Town will also purchase seven new radios to be installed in police vehicles, a central radio for the police station, and seven personal radios to be carried by officers.

            "I am pleased that the Rural Development Agency has provided this funding to localities in Wise County for new equipment for their police departments.  It is important to ensure that our law enforcement personnel have access to the best equipment, and today's announcement will help further this goal," Boucher concluded.                                                     

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