CHEBOYGAN CO., MI -- A $70,000 addition to the Cheboygan County Sheriff's Office will not only be an essential tool in search and rescue techniques, it'll also help protect US borders.

A $142,000 Homeland Security Grant paid for the new Hovercraft, which can skim the ice and open water in the winter and assist with operations in the summer.

Sheriff Dale Clarmont says without the grant, the purchase of the hovercraft wouldn't have been possible.

"This is a huge asset to our community both on the protection of the citizens and the search and rescue operations," said Clarmont.

Being a Homeland Security Grant purchase, the number one priority of the Hovercraft will be to assist in the protection of the borders.

The Sheriff says it will be a valuable security tool later this year when the Mackinac Bridge Walk takes place.