Dallas County was one of the five Black Belt counties receiving two grants from Gov. Kay Ivey to help reduce crime in the area.

The $200,000 will help the Fourth Judicial Circuit Gang Task Force continue to reduce gang-related crime in Bibb, Dallas, Hale, Perry and Wilcox counties. It all totals up to $250,000.

The Dallas County Adult Court program will use a $50,000 grant to enable some offenders to avoid incarceration by enrolling in a corrections program. Part of the requirement is they remain off drugs and stay out of trouble.

The Dallas County Commission is administering both grants. Ivey notified Dallas County Commission Chairman and Probate Judge Kim Ballard that the grant was approved.

“Anything we can do to reduce crime in Dallas County is certainly welcome,” Ballard said. “We need all the help we can get. We appreciate it.”

The Alabama Department of Community Affairs (ADECA) is administering the grant from funds made available by the U.S. Department of Justice. Among the programs ADECA supports include law enforcement and traffic safety and economic development.

“Gov. Ivey realizes making communities safe requires a combined effort among many organizations with a focused goal,” ADECA Director Kenneth Boswell said in a release. “ADECA is pleased to partner in this effort.”