December 15, 2024 – Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) has announced that law enforcement agencies in Sangamon County, Macon County and Champaign County will receive a combined $266,129 from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program.
“Our first responders dedicate their lives to protecting our communities and we must make sure they have the resources they need to stay safe on the job,” said Congresswoman Budzinski. “I’m thrilled to announce that Sangamon, Macon and Champaign Counties will receive $266,129 in federal grants to purchase critical equipment, address violent crime and strengthen relationships with the community. I’m proud to have advocated for these funds and I’ll continue working to bring tax dollars back to Central and Southern Illinois.”
“We can’t thank Congresswoman Budzinski enough for providing the Decatur Police Department with more resources to address the challenging issue of gun violence,” said Decatur Mayor Julie Moore Wolfe. “Gun violence has no place in Decatur and we look forward to seeing this grant make an impact in our community and throughout central Illinois.”
“Since 1997 the City of Champaign has applied for and received these grant funds that are designated to empower communities to address crime. Today on behalf of the City of Champaign, our Police Department and our partner entities the City of Urbana Police Department and Champaign County Sheriff’s Department I express gratitude for this year’s funding,” said Champaign Mayor Deborah Frank Feinen. “The JAG grant will be put to good use in Champaign funding both a police staffing study and the development of our Policing Strategic Plan. Champaign County will use the funds to pay for fuel in squad cars and Urbana intends to purchase riot shields and helmets. All of these investments will make our communities safer and for that we are appreciative.”
“If you look back at my time as Mayor, public safety has always been my top priority. This critical grant funding, secured with the support of U.S. Representative Nikki Budzinski, will allow us to purchase essential equipment that will not only help us address crime more effectively but also strengthen the trust and relationships we’ve built with our community,” said Springfield Mayor Misty Buscher. “I am grateful for Representative Budzinski’s commitment to Springfield and for helping us keep our city safe.
- $86,228 for Champaign, Urbana and Champaign County will be used to develop a strategic plan for the Champaign Police Department, purchase equipment for the Urbana Police Department and buy fuel for Champaign County squad cars.
- $58,510 for Decatur and Macon County will be used to address gun violence and strengthen community policing.
- $121,391 for Springfield and Sangamon County to address staffing shortages and purchase squad cars.
The JAG Program provides states, tribes and local governments with critical funding necessary to support a range of program areas including law enforcement, prosecution, indigent defense, courts, crime prevention and education, corrections and community corrections, drug treatment and enforcement, planning, evaluation, technology improvement, and crime victim and witness initiatives and mental health programs and related law enforcement and corrections programs, including behavioral programs and crisis intervention teams. Additional information on the JAG program can be found here.
