TAMPA (CBSMiami/AP) - The Tampa City Council approved  a measure Thursday to tap into a federal security grant to ramp up protection during the Republican National Convention in August.

The money will be used to hire local and out-of-town law enforcement officers, according to the Tampa Bay Times.

More than 15,000 protesters are expected to camp outside the Tampa Bay Times Forum during the event August 27-30. The city will lease a 4 acre private parking lot to accommodate the protesters. It is one of three that will be available around the city, at a cost of $57,500.

Of that $24.8 million, $20.85 million will go to 3,000 or more officers from 63 different agencies around Tampa Bay and the rest of the state. The remaining money is earmarked for city salaries.

Source: The Tampa Bay Times