EAST PALESTINE, Ohio - The U.S. Department of Agriculture has selected the Village of East Palestine to receive an investment of nearly $16 million for a new public safety complex in the village.

The complex will hold the city's fire, emergency services and police departments, along with its 911 dispatch center.

A press release from Ohio-based U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown's office states that the fiery train derailment in February of 2023 brought to light the village's serious need for public safety infrastructure.

According to the release, the village's firehouse is located just 40 feet away from the railroad tracks. If the derailment occurred half a mile earlier, the fire station would have been unable to respond to the disaster.

Additionally, every public safety building in the village is within the one-mile evacuation zone for railroad incidents. Following the derailment, the village's dispatch center had to relocate and the police and fire departments had to operate out of a city garage.

This new complex would not only serve the village, but also the county as a backup 911 center.

"East Palestine knows all too well how important well-equipped first responders are to protecting Ohioans. We're continuing to work to make this community whole by securing a new facility for East Palestine police officers, firefighters, and emergency personnel," Senator Brown said.