Rep. McNally announces more than $200k in traffic safety grants

COLUMBUS – State Rep. Lauren McNally (D-Youngstown) today announced $204,208.90 in Ohio Traffic Safety Office (OTSO) awards to support the efforts of safety partners and focus on traffic safety priority areas, including impaired driving, seat belt usage, distracted driving, youthful driving, and motorcycle safety. 

“Our local safety services are made up of neighbors and community members, people who can really personalize and story tell around hazards on the road,” said Rep. McNally. “Supporting their work with these dollars helps them connect better with the people their already connected to, and in turn brings us closer to our big picture goals.”

Submissions for the Fiscal Year 2024 competitive grants from OTSO, created within the Ohio Department of Public Safety, were due on May 30, 2023. The program includes funds for reimbursement from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSAA), funds that are meant to be used, in part, for traffic safety education, enforcement, and awareness and for short-term highway safety support, with the intent that other sources of funding will sustain programs over the long term. A minimum of 40 percent of federal funds are allocated to local jurisdictions with this funding release including 164 awards with more than $23 million in statewide investments, $10 million of which went to 135 local agencies in 62 counties, hoping to reduce the number of traffic related fatalities in Ohio.

“We need to continue having a collaborative approach to community safety in Ohio,” said Rep. McNally.

Law enforcement entities receiving funds in District 59 include: 

·       $85,813.12 for the Mahoning County Sheriff’s Office to support impaired driving and selective traffic enforcement

·       $71,500 for the Mahoning County Sheriff’s Office to support the Safe Communities project

·       $46,895.78 for the Youngstown Police Department to support impaired driving and selective traffic enforcement

Additionally, District 59 will benefit from general grant and high visibility enforcement period awards made to entities with statewide jurisdiction including:

·       $5,306,502.93 for the Ohio State Highway Patrol

·       $74,239 for the American Bar Association, through its Fund for Justice and Education

·       $1,021,837.44 for the Ohio Department of Health

·       $313,118 for Ohio State University

·       $197,724.84 for the University of Akron

·       $280,000 for the Ohio Attorney General’s Office

·       $256,649.16 for the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia

·       $99,691 for the Central Ohio Area Agency on Aging

·       $222,817.10 for the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America

·       $31,422.43 for the Governors Highway Safety Association

·       $157,156.86 for the National Safety Council

·       $151,000 for the Ohio Department of Transportation

·       $195,549.48 for SADD

The full list of awards can be found here.