Senator Stabenow Announces New Support for Ogemaw and Otsego County First Responders

Two grants, made possible by rural development funding in the current Farm Bill, will help purchase new patrol vehicles

Thursday, August 02, 2018

U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow, Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, today announced new federal support to help the Ogemaw County Sheriff and Gaylord Police Departments purchase patrol vehicles. 

 

"Emergency responders in our rural communities need to travel many miles to protect our families, homes, and businesses," said Senator Stabenow. “These new investments will help our police and sheriffs better serve their communities safely and efficiently.”

 

The Ogemaw County Sheriff Department will receive $22,000 to help purchase a patrol vehicle and new equipment including a siren and interior partitions. The vehicle will help the Sheriff Department serve more than 2,100 residents throughout the county.

 

The Gaylord Police Department, which also provides emergency assistance to other areas in Otsego County, will receive $36,000 to help purchase a SUV patrol vehicle. In winter weather conditions, the SUV will help the Department safely serve more than 3,600 residents.

 

These investments come through the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Development grants, which are part of the current Farm Bill authored by Senator Stabenow. With the current Farm Bill set to expire this fall, Senator Stabenow recently introduced a new bipartisan Farm Bill, which strengthens support for rural communities in Michigan.