Gov. Mike DeWine has announced the allocation of a $27,500 Safe Community grant to the Knox County Health Department. This award is part of a larger $23 million funding from the Ohio Traffic Safety Office.

"These grants align with Ohio’s mission to save lives and reduce injuries on our roads," DeWine stated, as reported by a press release from the Ohio Department of Public Safety. "By supporting local programs that raise awareness, educate drivers, and increase enforcement, we are working together to make Ohio’s roadways among the safest in the country."

According to another press release by the Ohio Department of Public Safety, the Health Department was one of 41 recipients across counties that shared a total of $2.1 million for Safe Community programs in Ohio. The funds are earmarked for addressing traffic safety issues involving impaired driving due to alcohol or drugs, distracted driving, seat belt usage, youthful driving, and motorcycles. Local coalitions within the Ohio Safe Communities network are tasked with delivering traffic safety programs and messages throughout the year.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) provided these traffic safety grant funds to the Ohio Traffic Safety Office, as detailed in another press release by the Ohio Department of Public Safety. The state invited grant proposals from various entities including state agencies, political subdivisions, non-profit organizations, colleges, universities, hospitals and other interested groups within selected Ohio counties and jurisdictions based on their number of fatal crashes.

Grants were subsequently awarded to 135 local agencies across 62 counties to bolster efforts of safety partners and focus on traffic safety priority areas such as impaired driving, distracted driving, youthful driving, seat belt usage and motorcycle safety. This information was also confirmed by a press release from the Ohio Department of Public Safety.