The Georgia Municipal Association (GMA) recently awarded the city of Fairmount with a Safety Grant check totaling more than $5,000.

The funds will be used to purchase body armor and an in car video system for the Fairmount Police Department.

“This program allows each city to stretch their budget dollars and provide a safer work environment for their employees,” said Manager of Marketing and Field Services, Steve Durden.

According to Fairmount Mayor, Harry Pierce, this is the first award of this kind received by Fairmount.

The GMA Safety and Liability Management Grant program was introduced in 2000 to provide a financial incentive to assist members in improving their employee safety and general public liability loss control efforts through training and the purchase of equipment or services.

These grant funds have helped leverage the purchase of more than $2.6 million to fund items such as bulletproof vests, training videos, reflective safety vests, fire department turnout gear, and police department in-vehicle video systems to more than 130 cities.

GMA is a nonprofit, voluntary organization that provides legislative advocacy, educational, employee benefit and consulting services to its more than 500 member cities.