The city of Dunkirk has snagged a $412,115 grant for its new software system.

The grant is part of the Appalachian Regional Commission’s READY Grants to Grow program. The program announced more than $11.6 million in grants for 47 projects across the country Thursday.

Dunkirk’s funding “will improve organizational efficiency, costs savings and accounting transparencies by implementing a new Government Resource Planning (GRP) software solution, training staff to use the GRP software and creating a new Information Technology Comptroller position,” according to the press release announcing the grants.

City Planning and Development Director Vince DeJoy was ecstatic about the award Thursday.

“This is a huge win for Dunkirk with this grant award,” he said in an email. “I wrote the grant early this year to help pay for the new accounting and finance platform that the city is currently implementing. Dunkirk’s award is one of the largest awards from what I saw.”

DeJoy continued, “I am very excited that the project was awarded. It will be another tool to help get Dunkirk on the right path for transparency and being able to manage the accounting, finance, bill collection, and other aspects of the city operation.”

DeJoy said he has been working more closely with the Appalachian Regional Commission since completing their leadership fellowship program in 2024. “We have been more successful in obtaining grants from ARC,” he asserted.