The coffers of Butler County's Homeland Security Program are some $60,000 richer thanks to a government grant.

Butler County Homeland Security officials recently met with Alabama Homeland Security Director Jim Walker to lay out their spending plan for grants dollars received through the fiscal year 2006 Homeland Security Grant Program.

State Senator Wendell Mitchell of Luverne presented the check for $60,000 to the Security Point of Contact for the county program, Greenville Police Chief Lonzo Ingram.

The Butler County proposal, agreed to by the county, municipality and public safety officials throughout the county, request the purchase of information technology equipment, public warning system, and physical security equipment to assist in county homeland security efforts.

&#8220With this Homeland Security funding, we will be better able to protect our infrastructure and our children in Butler County,” Ingram said.

&#8220We'll be able to put security cameras in our schools and in addition, the funding will help us test our emergency procedures by allowing us to conduct a full-scale exercise.”

Mitchell thanked Director Walker and Governor Bob Riley for making the money available to assist people the people of his district &#8220for such a meaningful purpose.”

Under a plan approved by Gov. Riley, every county in the state will receive funding to improve its ability to prevent, protect and respond to terrorism-related activities.

&#8220The safety of all Alabamians is our highest priority,” Riley said. &#8220We work with every county to help each make important improvements in their homeland security capabilities and county programs.”

In June 2006, Alabama received the highest effectiveness rating for a state homeland security program, as determined by the US Department of Homeland Security and a panel of over 200 experts from around the county. &#8220With strong cooperation and leadership from our counties, we will only get better,” Walker said.