Council approves national security grants for SPD and SFR – The Suffolk News-Herald

As part of the reconciliation program, the Suffolk City Council approved two ordinances for two port security grants for 2024 at its meeting on Wednesday, October 16th.

By a vote of 8-0, the council approved an ordinance accepting $256,158 for SPD from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to improve Suffolk’s resiliency and recovery capabilities in the city’s waters and Hampton Roads. Grant funds will be used to fund boat driver training, SAFE boat repairs, and the purchase of boat trailers and infrared cameras.

“Passage of the resolution will increase the revenues and expenditures of the Consolidated Grant Fund budget for fiscal year 2024-2025 by $256,158,” Moore said. “There is a local amount of $70,286 available in the Consolidated Grants Fund budget.”

The Council also approved a resolution accepting $79,272 from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to fund SFR to support the Suffolk Fire and Rescue Department’s Marine Incident Response Team. The funding will be used to purchase and train the operation of a towed side-scan sonar.

“Passage of the resolution will increase the Consolidated Grants Fund (2024)-25 budget revenues and expenses by $79,272, and there is a local amount of $26,424 in the Consolidated Grants Fund budget,” Moore said.