Coastal Carolina University has been awarded its first grant from economic stimulus funds through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

The University will receive a Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Hiring Recovery Program grant award of $138,807 to fund one sworn officer position in the Department of Public Safety for three years. As required in the grant application, the University has committed to fund the position for a minimum of 12 months following the 36-month federal funding period. The program requires that the funds be used specifically to initiate or enhance community policing efforts.

Coastal Carolina University is the sole college or univeristy to receive funding among the 45 awardees in South Carolina. There were 124 applicants from across the state considered in the competitive grant program. South Carolina law enforcement agencies will receive more than $20 million to fund 139 positions.

With the University's Office of Grants and Sponsored Research, the team preparing the grant included Greg Weisner, assistant director of the Office of Judicial Affairs and Off Campus Student Services; Philip Moore, deputy chief in the Office of Public Safety; and Anne Monk, associate vice president for governmental grants.