By Staff
from staff reports
Gov. Bob Riley has announced the awarding of several grants to aid in areas across the state of Alabama.
Among the grants awarded was $67,600 for a comprehensive crime prevention training program to make Alabama communities safer.
The funding will help Auburn University Montgomery continue to operate the Alabama Crime Prevention Clearinghouse and Training Institute. The clearinghouse provides crime prevention training and technical assistance to various law enforcement and state agencies, community groups and schools.
The crime prevention training involves teaching law enforcement agencies and communities to implement neighborhood watch programs. The training also focuses on ways to prevent or combat domestic violence, employee violence, child exploitation, consumer fraud and identity theft.
The clearinghouse was established in 1997 and continues to work with multiple law enforcement agencies to identify training needs and areas of improvement. The clearinghouse also provides crime prevention training and community policing training as requested by local law enforcement.
Riley notified Dr. John Veres, chancellor of AUM, that the grant had been approved. Funding for the grant was made available to the state through the U.S. Department of Justice. The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs will administer the award.
Also awarded was $135,000 to the Alabama Coalition Against Rape for their services provided to victims of sexual assault across the state.
The organization, located in Montgomery, will continue to provide technical assistance to professionals, advocacy groups and government agencies, especially in the area of forensic medical exams for victims of sexual assault.
The coalition provides an advanced course for law enforcement personnel that includes information on subjects like juvenile rape victims, date rape, drug facilitated rape and spousal rape.
The coalition also provides training on sexual assault for prosecutors to help them effectively prosecute offenders.
The coalition also acts as a clearinghouse for information on sexual assault and ensures that the 15 member rape crisis centers across the state remain in compliance with state standards.
Riley notified Beverly Youse, president of the coalition, that the grant had been approved. The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs will administer the award, which was made available to the state through the U.S. Department of Justice.
A $25,000 grant to enable water systems to conserve water supplies and reduce the amount of energy used in supplying water to customers has also been awarded by Riley.
The grant to the Alabama Rural Water Association will be used to help water systems detect and repair leaks resulting in supplies reaching customers.
The association will provide leak detection tests and other assistance to approximately 400 water systems across the state. Riley notified Kathy H. Horne, executive director of the association, that the grant had been approved. Matching funds of $6,250 will supplement the award.
Funding for the grant is made available to the state through the U.S. Department of Energy.
The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs is administering the award.