The Calhoun Police Department will receive almost $300,000 in federal stimulus money to hire two police officers.

The CPD will receive $299,478 through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

Vice President Joe Biden and Attorney General Eric Holder today announced that $1 billion in Recovery Act grants to fund the hiring and rehiring of law enforcement officers will be awarded to 1,046 law enforcement agencies from all 50 states, including more than $31 million in grants to fund the hiring and rehiring of 184 law enforcement officers in Georgia.

In addition to the grant to Calhoun, the Adairsville Police Department will receive $156,726 to fund one officer.

“A big part of the Recovery Act is about building communities – making them as strong as they can be, allowing every American family to live a better life than the one they are leading now,” said Vice President Joe Biden. “And we can’t achieve the goal of stronger communities without supporting those who keep our streets safe.”

The Recovery Act grants, which will be administered by the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) through the federal agency’s COPS Hiring Recovery Program, provide much needed financial support to state, local and tribal governments, and will help the nation’s law enforcement agencies add and retain the manpower needed to fight crime more effectively through community policing. The Department of Justice received over 7,200 applications for more than 39,000 officer positions, representing a total of $8.3 billion in requested funding.

“These Recovery Act funds will pump much needed resources into communities through a program with a proven track record,” said Attorney General Holder. “The tremendous demand for these grants is indicative of both the tough times our states, cities and tribes are facing, and the unyielding commitment by law enforcement to making our communities safer.”