WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., and Cindy Hyde-Smith, R-Miss., today announced $3.22 million in federal grants to support the purchase or lease of low emissions buses for the City of Jackson, and police and public works vehicles for seven other Mississippi communities.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development proved the discretionary grant funding.

“These grants are welcome news for several Mississippi communities,” Wicker said. “These federal dollars will help support local investments to upgrade vehicles for transportation, public safety, and public works that will make a noticeable difference.”

“Up-to-date equipment is necessary in order for communities to provide essential services safely and efficiently to their residents.  These federal resources allow these Mississippi communities to purchase or lease important equipment, ranging from public transit, law enforcement vehicles, and maintenance equipment,” Hyde-Smith said.

The grants awarded to Mississippi include:

• City of Jackson – $2,900,000 from the FTA Low or No Emission Grant Program to purchase or lease low and no-emissions buses for JATRAN, the city’s public transportation system.
• Clay County – $50,000 from the USDA Community Facilities Disaster Grants program to support the purchase of a tractor and bush hog and $50,000 to support the purchase of a garbage truck.
• Yalobusha County – $50,000 from the USDA Community Facilities Disaster Grants program to support the purchase of a tractor and trailer.
• Town of Tishomingo – $49,600 from the USDA Community Facilities Disaster Grants program to support the purchase of a truck, lawnmower, grader scraper and win radio.
• Tishomingo County – $43,200 from the USDA Community Facilities Disaster Grants program to support the purchase of a new tractor and cutter.
• Prentiss County – $36,400 from the USDA Community Facilities Disaster Grants program to support the purchase of a backhoe.
• Quitman County – $35,900 from the USDA Community Facilities Disaster Grants program to support the purchase of patrol vehicles for the Quitman County Sheriff Department.
• Montgomery County – $13,200 from the USDA Community Facilities Direct Loans and Grant Program to support the purchase of a patrol vehicle for Montgomery County Sheriff Department.