ROYAL CITY — The Royal City Police Department K-9 Ollie has a brand-new ballistic vest with the help of a donation from the Grant County Industrial Alliance and the Grant County Public Utility District. 

The two groups each donated $2,500 toward buying a vest for Ollie, presented to Royal City Police Chief Rey Rodriguez and Officer Hannah Soelter. 

“Grant County Industrial Alliance represents many of Grant County’s largest industrial companies. One of GCIA’s main objectives is to support efforts throughout the county that align with the goals and values of GCIA’s members,” according to a post from RCPD. 

The PUD’s donation came through its “Pay It Forward” program, which takes donations from PUD customers. The money is in turn donated to projects around Grant County. PUD customers can donate to the Pay It Forward program through the Columbia Basin Foundation.  

“The specific Pay It Forward money used for Royal City’s K-9 program came from Microsoft. The company helped Grant PUD meet energy efficiency targets in the Washington Clean Energy Transformation Act, and then chose to have the accompanying rebate dollars go to Pay it Forward,” the RCPD post said.