Saturday, July 17, 2004
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- The city is vying for a $1.6 million federal grant to help fight crime.
Mayor Wayne Alexander and Police Chief Tom Sansone met Thursday with representatives from the offices U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum and U.S. Rep. Melissa Hart of Bradford Woods, R-4th, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Marshals Service and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency.
Alexander said that the money will come from a Congressional Funding Request and that he should know by Oct. 1 if the city will receive it. The mayor said it would be used to fight the war on drugs.
The mayor noted they don't expect to get the full $1.6 million request but do hope to walk away with some money.
Brian Welsh of the Lawrence County Family Center, who helped write the grant, said the money will be used for new equipment and technology. He rattled of a long list of items including new fingerprinting technology, weapons, ammunition and other things.
Alexander said bringing all of the law enforcement agencies together is an important part of getting the grant.
"They want to show a city like New Castle, with a combined effort of agencies, can win the war on drugs," Alexander said.