Department issues $1.48M grant for lab

Southwest Missouri Congressman Roy Blunt this afternoon announced the grant will be released to the city in the next few days. Blunt co-sponsored legislation last year to mandate funds for the lab.

The lab, to be located in the renovated L.E. Cox Building at 440 E. Tampa St., would serve as a regional service for Springfield and Greene County. Officials have said the area’s existing lab has an extensive backlog and unreasonable wait times for cases.

Provided services at the new lab will include forensic analyses of DNA, trace evidence, fire and toolmarks, toxicology, latent fingerprints and drug chemistry.

Additional funding for the lab will come from a $2.4 million low-interest loan offered by a consortium of 15 local banks. Springfield City Council approved the loan agreement in April.