Long Beach council authorizes application for state grant to buy up to three electric police vehicles, approves $50,000 match cap
February 11, 2026 | LaPorte County, Indiana
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Long Beach’s town council on Feb. 9 voted to allow the police department to apply for a Drive Clean Indiana grant administered by the Indiana Office of Energy Development that could pay for up to three fully electric police vehicles and related charging infrastructure.
Chief Swistek told the council the state account holds federal funds made available in 2024 and the program opened on Feb. 2 with applications due April 5. He recommended the town hire Drive Clean Indiana for professional grant-writing support at a cost not to exceed $4,500, payable from the police donation account, and asked the council to authorize local matching funds not to exceed $50,000 (the chief suggested a 25% cap if the town requested $200,000 and might be awarded fewer vehicles).
Swistek described fleet needs: the town currently operates seven police vehicles, several nearing 100,000 miles and two still under manufacturer warranty; one vehicle recently required multiple repairs. He said electrification could reduce maintenance and fuel costs and estimated a potential five‑year savings of about $213,000 if the town transitions to electric vehicles for planned replacements. Swistek also described conversations with other towns that have adopted electric police vehicles and said vendors and municipalities reported satisfactory performance in varied conditions.
If awarded, the town would likely need to purchase vehicles up front and seek reimbursement through the grant; the chief said reimbursement typically takes 30–45 days. The council approved not-to-exceed authorization for grant-writing services and amended the motion to include the $50,000 maximum local match. The motion passed by voice vote.
What happens next: staff will complete and submit the grant application by the April 5 deadline, pursue letters of support from state legislators, and — if awarded — return to council with contract documents and specific fiscal commitments before purchase and reimbursement requests.
Votes at a glance: council authorized spending up to $4,500 for grant-writing assistance and approved a potential local match not to exceed $50,000 for the Drive Clean Indiana/Indiana Office of Energy Development grant application.
Chief Swistek told the council the state account holds federal funds made available in 2024 and the program opened on Feb. 2 with applications due April 5. He recommended the town hire Drive Clean Indiana for professional grant-writing support at a cost not to exceed $4,500, payable from the police donation account, and asked the council to authorize local matching funds not to exceed $50,000 (the chief suggested a 25% cap if the town requested $200,000 and might be awarded fewer vehicles).
Swistek described fleet needs: the town currently operates seven police vehicles, several nearing 100,000 miles and two still under manufacturer warranty; one vehicle recently required multiple repairs. He said electrification could reduce maintenance and fuel costs and estimated a potential five‑year savings of about $213,000 if the town transitions to electric vehicles for planned replacements. Swistek also described conversations with other towns that have adopted electric police vehicles and said vendors and municipalities reported satisfactory performance in varied conditions.
If awarded, the town would likely need to purchase vehicles up front and seek reimbursement through the grant; the chief said reimbursement typically takes 30–45 days. The council approved not-to-exceed authorization for grant-writing services and amended the motion to include the $50,000 maximum local match. The motion passed by voice vote.
What happens next: staff will complete and submit the grant application by the April 5 deadline, pursue letters of support from state legislators, and — if awarded — return to council with contract documents and specific fiscal commitments before purchase and reimbursement requests.
Votes at a glance: council authorized spending up to $4,500 for grant-writing assistance and approved a potential local match not to exceed $50,000 for the Drive Clean Indiana/Indiana Office of Energy Development grant application.
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