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Long Beach reports $227,281 FEMA Port Security grant for new police boat; funds not yet released
Summary
The Long Beach Police Commission said it was awarded a $227,281.20 FEMA Port Security grant to buy a new police boat; FEMA will cover $170,460.90 and the town must provide a $56,820.30 match. The town has raised $57,000+ in donations but said FEMA has not released the funds as of July 2026.
Chief Mark J. Swistek, Long Beach’s police chief and town administrator, reported that the department has been awarded a $227,281.20 FEMA Port Security grant to purchase a new police boat and related equipment, but as of July 2026 FEMA had not yet released the funds.
Swistek said FEMA’s portion of the award is $170,460.90 (75 percent) and the town’s required match is $56,820.30. The department paid LEXIPOL $4,000 from the police donation account to assist with writing the grant application and expects a $1,500 reimbursement for that expense. The department has raised more than $57,000 in donations from local businesses and residents toward the match.
The police reported plans to order the vessel from FLUID in January, with delivery anticipated in March or April, and that the Michigan City Port Authority has agreed to provide a 30‑foot slip at the marina at no cost from May through September. The department said the boat would be stored inside the Public Safety Building during winter months.
Swistek cautioned that the award is not yet in hand: “FEMA has yet to release the funds for the grant award,” the meeting record states. The timeline for disbursement remains uncertain in the department’s July 2026 update.
Next steps noted in the record include finalizing the vendor order once funding is available and using donated match funds to help meet the grant requirement. The commission did not record a vote or formal motion on purchasing at the July 2 meeting.
