Congressman Tim Walz announced Friday that the economic recovery package Congress passed last month will provide $482,000 in funding allocations for southern Minnesota law enforcement and criminal justice assistance, available through the Edward Byrne Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program. More than $29 million is coming to Minnesota to help local communities through this economic crisis.

“This funding will help cities like Austin and Worthington keep their neighborhoods safe with new video cameras and faster computers for patrol cars,” Walz said. “By making sure our local law enforcement agencies have the necessary tools to keep us and our children safe, we are laying the foundation for healthy communities for generations to come.”

JAG Program funds can be used for a variety of efforts such as hiring law enforcement officers, supporting drug and gang task forces, funding crime prevention and domestic violence programs, and supporting courts, corrections, treatment and justice information sharing initiatives.

“These funds are a vital component in our effort to not just revive our economy, but to build a new foundation for lasting prosperity and security,” President Barack Obama said. “By keeping police officers on the streets whose jobs were threatened by budget cuts and ensuring states and municipalities have the tools and equipment necessary to fight crime, this money will simultaneously help jumpstart the American economy and protect our citizens.”

The procedure for allocating JAG grants is based on a formula of population and violent crime statistics, in combination with a minimum allocation to ensure that each state and territory receives an appropriate share of funding. Sixty percent of the allocation is awarded directly to a state and 40 percent is set aside for units of local governments.