Rep. Lauren McNally Announces $62,776 to support Youngstown State University for campus safety

COLUMBUS- State Rep. Lauren McNally (D-Youngstown) today announced that the state Controlling Board has approved $62,776 for Youngstown State University (YSU) as part of the Ohio Department of Public Safety’s (ODPS) and Chancellor of Higher Education’s Campus Safety Grant Program.

“Student safety must be a priority in Ohio, and these upgrades are a necessary part of that,” said Rep. McNally. “I’m glad YSU’s campus will get these improvements.”

The Campus Safety Grant Program provides funding to state institutions of higher education for eligible security improvements that assist the institutions in improving the overall physical security and safety of their buildings on public campuses throughout Ohio, awarding grants competitively to eligible state institutions of higher education. Upon release of the funds, YSU will purchase and install new video camera systems and their association equipment, improving the function and reliability of the system on campus and increasing safety and security.

“As an anchor institution, both in the Mahoning Valley and the state, it is imperative that we continue investing in YSU,” said Rep. McNally.

According to the Controlling Board Request, YSU will purchase the video equipment from CDW-G who, in November 1, 2019, entered into a Master Price Agreement with the Inter-University Council Purchasing Group, a purchasing consortium comprised of the purchasing officers of the state institutions of higher education, allowing for the deepest discounts available to YSU who is a member of the consortium. The $62,776 awarded to YSU will go toward the equipment purchase and installation by Zenith Systems LLC.