WASHINGTON – U.S. Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins said Thursday that the U.S. Department of Justice has authorized more than $110,000 in grant funding to finance purchase of bulletproof vests for 57 communities and police agencies throughout the state.

This grant funding is made possible by the Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant of 2000, which passed the Senate with the support of Snowe and Collins. More than 5,100 applications for funding were received nationwide, the largest number of applicants since the program’s inception three years ago.

Funding released this year will support purchase of nearly 190,000 vests.

Maine communities where police agencies will receive funding from the Justice Department Bulletproof Vest Partnership include:

Ashland $949.98; Augusta $1,500; Baileyville $1,652; Bangor $5,165; Bar Harbor $966; Brewer $2,006; Dixfield $505.60; Ellsworth $1,003; Fairfield $3,750; Farmingdale $572; Farmington $969; Fort Fairfield $1,262; Gouldsboro $1,168; Hallowell $750; Hancock County $880; Houlton $520; Islesboro $257; Kennebec County $51.87; Knox County $755; Limestone $614; the state, $5,887; Madison $1,528; Millinocket $3,802; Oakland $1,166; Orono $2,714; Orrington $260; Piscataquis County $1,084; Pittsfield $894; Portland $6,135; Presque Isle $444; Rockland $880; Sabattus $572; Skowhegan $203; Winthrop $806; Waldoboro $790; Winslow $377.