CONGRESSMAN BOUCHER SECURES $2 MILLLION TO CONSTRUCT NEW HOME FOR NEW RIVER CRIMINAL JUSTICE TRAINING ACADEMY

Federal Grant Will Enable Better Training Facility for Law Enforcement Personnel in Bland, Carroll, Floyd, Giles, Pulaski and Montgomery Counties and the City of Galax

            (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 $2,083,212 to the New River Criminal Justice Training Academy for the construction of a new training facility in Dublin. Of that total amount, $200,000 is being provided in the form of a federal grant, and $1,883,212 is being provided in the form of a low-interest, federal loan.

“The federal funds which I am announcing today will be used to construct a new training facility for the New River Criminal Justice Training Academy. Currently, the Training Academy provides training in an aging former school facility in Draper and a former water plant building in Dublin, both of which are inadequate to provide safe, modern training for the region’s law enforcement officers and in need of major repairs. With the benefit of the federal funds, a new and modern facility will be built which will enable the Academy to provide the most up-to-date training to our region’s law enforcement personnel,” Boucher said.

“Congressman Rick Boucher continues to recognize the training needs of law enforcement and their importance in the Commonwealth, especially during such challenging times,” said Floyd County Sheriff Shannon B. Zeman.

            Currently, the New River Criminal Justice Training Academy leases two spaces, a former school in Draper and a former water plant building in Dublin, both of which are in need of repairs. The current facilities are inadequate to provide varying class sizes and specific training activities, such as driver training.

            Today’s announcement of $2 million provided at Congressman Boucher’s urging will enable the construction of a new facility in Dublin approximately 11,000 square feet in size. It will include three classrooms, three offices, a conference room, a weight room, a firearms simulator training room, a computer lab, a reception area, a workroom, storage areas, a kitchen and locker rooms. In addition, a large multipurpose room 2,800 square feet in size will be added. The federal funds will also enable the purchase of furniture, equipment and fixtures for the building.

            The New River Criminal Justice Training Academy provides training to the police and sheriff’s offices in Bland, Carroll, Floyd, Giles, Pulaski and Montgomery Counties, the City of Galax, the Towns of Dublin, Fries, Hillsville, Independence, Rich Creek, Glen Lyn, Pembroke, Pearisburg, Rural Retreat, Wytheville, the New River Valley Regional Jail, Radford University, and Carillon Health Systems Police at the New River Valley Medical Center in Radford, Virginia.

            “Ensuring that our region’s law enforcement personnel have the most up-to-date equipment and training possible is one of my highest priorities. Today’s announcement will enable the New River Criminal Justice Training Academy to provide better training to law enforcement offices across the region," Boucher said.

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