Drug task force awarded $237,276 grant through federal stimulus plan

The SEMO Drug Task Force was awarded a $237,276 grant, the governor announced Tuesday, thanks to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, better known as the federal stimulus plan.

The grant was a portion of $7.3 million in Justice Assistance Grants that were awarded to 28 drug task forces statewide.

The funding allocated to the SEMO Drug Task Force allowed the entity to stay viable "plus some," according to director Kevin Glaser.

Glaser said the grant constitutes about 75 percent of the task force's operating budget. The grant offered enough funding to hire an additional officer, increasing the staff from three to four.

"We would've probably had to shut our doors down if we didn't get it," he said, noting that Justice Assistance Grants were cut earlier this year. Glaser said word of the grant reached the task force shortly before the fiscal year began in July.

"It's gratifying to know that we're putting these funds to good use, getting more resources, people and equipment out on the street in population centers like Kansas City and Springfield, as well as in rural Missouri," Gov. Jay Nixon said in a news release. "These dollars make a real difference for our cops and the people they protect."