AUSTINTOWN TWP., Ohio - The US Department of Justice announced $139 million for law enforcement hiring that is intended to advance community policing on Thursday, and Austintown Township will be receiving $250,000 of that money.

The initiative is part of the  Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) COPS Hiring Program (CHP). The money is awarded to 183 law enforcement agencies across the country.

"We are committed to providing police departments with the resources needed to help ensure community safety and build community trust," said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. "The grants we are announcing today will enable law enforcement agencies across the country to hire more than 1,000 additional officers to support vitally important community oriented policing programs."

Of the 183 agencies awarded grants, around half will use the funding to focus on building legitimacy and trust between law enforcement and communities while others will focus on reducing gun violence and other crime.

The COPS office has invested more than $14 billion towards advancing community policing since 1994.