• What's Up Columbia!
  • Posts
  • Columbia Lands $1.3M Violent Crime Intervention Grant to Enhance Public Safety

Columbia Lands $1.3M Violent Crime Intervention Grant to Enhance Public Safety

Issue #623

December 08, 2025

In this What’s Up Columbia issue…

⛅️ Columbia’s Tuesday Weather - Partly cloudy w/ high of 48, low of 39

📰 Columbia Lands $1.3M Violent Crime Intervention Grant to Enhance Public Safety

📰 Firehouse Subs Grant Provides Game-Changing Rescue Equipment to Mount Pleasant Fire

🗓 List of Upcoming Events

🗓 Know of Some Local Events Not Listed? Send us the Details!

Columbia Lands $1.3M Violent Crime Intervention Grant to Enhance Public Safety

The City of Columbia is proud to announce that the Columbia Police Department has been awarded $1,300,000 through the State of Tennessee’s Violent Crime Intervention Fund (VCIF), administered by the Department of Finance & Administration’s Office of Criminal Justice Programs (OCJP).

“The VCIF program provides critical resources for communities across Tennessee to enhance public safety,” said Assistant Police Chief Jeremy Haywood. “This funding will allow us to expand investigative capabilities and equip our officers with advanced technology and modernized tools to respond more effectively to criminal offenses.”

The State of Tennessee allocated $75 million in the 2025–26 budget to support VCIF grants for law enforcement agencies statewide, including local police departments and drug task forces, to strengthen efforts to prevent and reduce violent crime. VCIF grants fund evidence-based programs, technology, infrastructure, and other initiatives designed to enhance strategies addressing violent crime. In Columbia, the $1.3 million award will be used to upgrade surveillance systems, enhance forensic capabilities, and provide state-of-the-art protective equipment for officers, improving investigative capacity and ensuring personnel can operate even more safely and efficiently in the field.

This $1.3 million award follows closely after the City’s recent $758,681 Community Development Block Grant for drainage improvements, a pair of significant investments that City Manager Tony Massey said “make it feel a little like Christmas came early for Columbia.” Together, these grant successes reflect the City’s continued commitment to aggressively pursuing external funding opportunities that strengthen services, support community needs, and help ease the financial burden on local taxpayers.

Firehouse Subs Grant Provides Game-Changing Rescue Equipment to Mount Pleasant Fire

The Mount Pleasant Fire Department recently received a grant from Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation, which will be used to purchase three state-of-the-art Amkus Rescue Tools, fulfilling a critical need within the department.

The $39,791 grant upgraded battery-operated extrication tools that include a cutter, spreader, ram and extended tips that don’t require the gas engine and hydraulic connections of the old extrication unit.

“[The old setup] process often required one to two people and took two to four minutes before the tool was ready to operate,” firefighter Eric Barnett said. “The new electric tools, powered by DeWalt batteries, eliminate all of that setup. Deployment is now as simple as picking up the tool and pressing the power button — ready to work in seconds instead of minutes.”

Mount Pleasant Fire used the machines in a real-life extrication shortly after receiving them.

“The new Amkus extrication tools are a true game-changer for our department,” said firefighter Caleb Clayton. “With increased power, speed, and precision, these tools make vehicle extrications safer and far more efficient. Their lighter weight reduces physical strain on our crews, helping prevent exhaustion during long or complex rescues.”

“Thank you to Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation, our local Firehouse Subs restaurant in Columbia, and the generous donors who made this possible!” a statement from the Mount Pleasant Fire Department said.

Upcoming Local Events

🗓 Have an event to add? Send us the Details!

Tuesday, December 9th

Wednesday, December 10th

Thursday, December 11th

Friday, December 12th

Saturday, December 13th

Sunday, December 14th

MORE EVENTS COMING SOON!

👇 Click the Links to Learn About our Local Business Sponsors! 👇

🎵 This Week’s Live Music

Tuesday, December 9th

Songwriters Round - Whiskey Alley Saloon, 6–9 PM

Thursday, December 11th

Todd Ciprian - Tito’s Spring Hill, 6–9 PM
Taylor Borton - Whiskey Alley Saloon, 7:30–9 PM

Friday, December 12th

Open Mic Night - Grinder’s Switch Winery, 6–9 PM
The Def Leprechaun Band - McCreary’s Irish Pub, 7–9 PM
Troy Castellanos - Whiskey Alley Saloon, 7:30–9 PM
Justen Harden - Puckett’s, 7:30–9 PM
Escape - Fozzy’s Bar & Grill, 8–11 PM

Saturday, December 13th

One Christmas Evening - The Mulehouse, 7 PM
Kirwan! - McCreary’s Irish Pub, 7–9 PM
Southbound Crows - Turnpike Tavern, 7:00 PM
Michael Rix - Puckett’s, 7:30–9 PM
The Open Range Band - The Boondox, 8:00 PM
Benji & The Jets - Fozzy’s Bar & Grill, 8–11 PM

Want to get your business in What’s Up Columbia? Let’s talk