Press Releases

LOWELL, MA – Today, Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03) announced $128,028 in the form of two CARES Act grants for the Marlborough and Fitchburg Police Departments. The funding will be disbursed by the U.S. Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Assistance to support law enforcement’s efforts to respond to the coronavirus.

“Heroes like the men and women who show up each day at the Marlborough and Fitchburg Police Departments have been working tirelessly for months to deliver emergency services to keep us safe during this pandemic. Their dedication to their communities is second to none, and I’m proud to announce this funding to help keep them safe while they continue their noble work,” said Congresswoman Trahan.

Specific allocations for each department are as follows:

• $41,966 for the Marlborough Police Department
• $86,062 for the Fitchburg Police Department

"Thank you to Congresswoman Trahan for advocating for the CARES Act, which resulted in the availability of this Department of Justice Grant. These funds will go directly toward updating public safety technology to assist our officers while navigating through the outbreak of COVID-19. The ability to rely on technology to supplement face-to-face activities helps keep our police officers and citizens safer during these uncertain times," said Marlborough Mayor Arthur G. Vigeant.

“The City of Fitchburg would like to thank Congresswoman Lori Trahan, the U.S. Department of Justice and our state and federal partners for making these much needed grant funds available,” said Fitchburg Police Chief Ernest Martineau. “These crucial funds will be used to reimburse eligible expenses associated with Fitchburg’s response to the ongoing public health crisis, assisting the men and women who are fighting on the front lines every day.”

Trahan voted in late March to pass the third coronavirus relief package known as the CARES Act, which allocated $850 million in funding for the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) program to provide immediate relief to state and local governments responsible for administering emergency services on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic. Recipients of this funding are able to use it to support overtime, acquisition of PPE, additional supplies like gloves and masks, training, as well as to address the medical needs of inmates.

Last week, Trahan returned to Washington to pass the Heroes Act, legislation that provides $3 trillion in immediate relief for heroes on the front lines of the fight against COVID-19, working families, small businesses, and more. In addition to the $375 billion in funding to assist local governments and $500 billion in aid to state governments to continue paying frontline workers and first responders, the Heroes Act also includes another $300 million in funding for the Byrne JAG program. The Senate has yet to take up this legislation that would deliver a second round of funding like this to Marlborough, Fitchburg, and other municipalities across the Commonwealth.

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