The City of Laurel’s Department of Economic and Community Development has received a $100,000 grant to improve community safety.

Laurel is one of 150 recipients in the last round of Community Safety Works Grants which are administered by the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development.

ECD Director Robert Love says "the money will go towards various projects with the Laurel Police Department, the Department of Public Works, and the Department of  Parks and Recreation—all aimed at creating safe neighborhoods.”

Love says the funds will be used on several projects, including additional solar safety lights at crosswalks, improvements at the Farmer’s Market lot, and safety upgrades at Gude Mansion.

Mayor Craig A. Moe says those safety improvements "make Laurel more livable, which in turn, directly impacts our efforts to revitalize our business districts. It’s a huge boost to our economic potential.”

Laurel Police Chief Russ Hamill says he’s looking forward to using the funding for crime prevention programs so residents and visitors to Laurel will feel safer in public areas throughout the City.

“Laurel residents deserve safe places to live and work,” Hamill says.

For more information about the Community Safety Works program, visit dhcd.maryland.gov/Communities/Pages/csw/.