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$42M added to grant program to help Ohio law enforcement agencies combat violent crime

By Mahoning Matters staff
Police officer
(Getty Images)

Ohio law enforcement agencies will have more state funding available to them to help combat violent crime.

The amount of funding available through the Ohio Violent Crime Reduction Grant Program is increasing from $58 million to $100 million, Gov. Mike DeWine announced Monday during a visit to the Whitehall Police Department.

“Violent crime is spiking nationwide, and here in Ohio, I want to ensure that our local law enforcement agencies have as much support as possible,” DeWine said in a news release. “From new equipment to more staff, we’re giving our agencies the flexibility to use these grants in ways that make the biggest impact on the safety of their communities.”

The Ohio Violent Crime Reduction Grant Program was launched in 2021 with $8 million from the state’s operating budget. The program was later expanded with $50 million from American Rescue Plan funds. It will now expand to $100 million, with the additional $42 million also coming from ARP funds, the release states.

To date, $28.7 million in grants have been awarded to 99 law enforcement agencies in Ohio. The next round of grant awards are expected to be announced later this week, the release states.

Here are the law enforcement agencies in the Mahoning Valley that have received grants in previous rounds of funding:

ROUND 1

  • Warren Police Department, $218,344;

  • Northern Ohio Violent Crime Consortium (which includes the Youngstown Police Department), $130,418.

ROUND 2

No law enforcement agencies in the Valley received funding in the second round.

ROUND 3

  • Austintown Township Police Department, $281,800;

  • Sebring Police Department, $51,521;

  • Milton Township Police Department, $18,000.

ROUND 4

  • Trumbull County Sheriff’s Office, $366,799;

  • Niles Police Department, $262,350;

  • Jackson Township Police Department, $35,846.

ROUND 5

  • Cortland Police Department, $112,097.

ROUND 6

  • Trumbull County Prosecutor’s Office, $495,151;

  • East Liverpool Police Department, $323,413;

  • Salem Police Department, $159,704;

  • Mercer County Sheriff’s Office, $110,640.