ATLANTA (June 9, 2023) | This week, Governor Brian P. Kemp announced that he has made preliminary grant awards totaling more than $83.5 million for 118 qualified projects that improve community-level public safety measures and address law enforcement staffing challenges that arose during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The program funds will be allotted to supplement local law enforcement staffing, support violent crime reduction or community violence intervention programming, and invest in technology and equipment to address and respond to the rise in community violence across the state.

“I appreciate Governor Kemp and his staff for awarding Commerce’s first responders with this grant funding,” said Sen. Bo Hatchett (R – Cornelia). “The Commerce Police Department is extremely deserving of this grant and I look forward to seeing these key initiatives implemented in the coming months.”

Funds awarded to the Commerce Police Department include $79,310 to implement 21st century intelligence-led policing strategies for crime reduction and enhance quality of life in the community of Commerce.

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Sen. Bo Hatchett serves as a Governor’s Administration Floor Leader. He represents the 50th Senate District which includes Banks, Franklin, Habersham, Rabun, Stephens and Towns County and portions of Hall, Jackson, and White counties. He can be reached by phone at 404.463.5257 or by email at bo.hatchett@senate.ga.gov.