FUNDING SUMMARY
The state of Ohio has several funding opportunities for Ohio schools to bolster campus safety and security:
House Bill 33 provides grant funding through the State of Ohio Security Grant program to nonprofit organizations, houses of worship, chartered nonpublic schools, and licensed preschools for eligible security improvements that assist the organization in preventing, preparing for, or responding to acts of terrorism. Find more information about the program and how to apply here. Application deadline: November 3, 2023.
The Ohio Attorney General’s School/Law Enforcement Technology Linking Safety Grant, also known as a Safety Innovation Grant, awards up to $30,000 per district for crisis-response technology that links schools with law enforcement agencies for improved safety, crime prevention and response. Find more information about the program and how to apply here. Application deadline: November 30, 2023.
The Ohio School Safety Center’s K-12 School Safety Grant Program was established to help schools pay for physical security expenses such as new security cameras, public address systems, automatic door locks, visitor badging systems, and exterior lighting. Any organization may apply for up to three sites with a maximum funding request for each of $100,000. Find more information about the program and how to apply here.
The School Safety and Security Grant Program (SSSG) was established by the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation to provide Ohio employees assistance with ensuring the safety of their staff throughout the state who instruct children. Find more information about the program and how to apply here.
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Ohio Grant Funding Parameters
The StrataSite™ Active Threat Plan™ aids schools in creating a GIS-compatible incident action plan that integrates with local emergency response agency technology. Funding is available to implement StrataSite™ in Ohio schools, as detailed in program guidelines, excerpted below:
House Bill 33 / State of Ohio Security Grant Eligible Equipment includes:
- Camera-based security systems, alarm systems, and standalone sensors designed to detect access violations or intrusions using sensors such as door/window switches, motion sensors, acoustic sensors, seismic, and thermal sensors
- Access control systems, locking devices and entry systems for control of physical access to facilities, including:
- Reinforced doors and gates with increased resistance to external impact
- Personnel identification systems for positive identification of personnel as a prerequisite for entering restricted areas or accessing information systems (such as badging)
- Fencing, bollards, or obstacles designed to channel or halt pedestrian or vehicle-borne traffic in order to protect a physical asset or facility (this does not include landscaping)
- Vehicle identification including decals or other transponder devices for vehicles owned by staff, members, visitors, etc.
- Fixed high-intensity lighting for improved visibility in areas such as building perimeters and surveillance zones
- Blast protection/Reinforcement systems to mitigate damage from blasts, shocks, or impacts, such as column and surface wraps, wall coverings, breakage/shatter resistant glass, window wraps, deflection shields, and blast resistant trash receptacles
- Portable X-Ray systems for use in search and screening operations, as well as hand-held or fixed package and personnel screening systems such as walk-through magnetometers and conveyor-belt x-ray systems used to screen personnel and packages for hazardous materials/devices
- Emergency and crisis communication systems including radios, emergency notification and warning systems, and public address systems
- Trauma and crisis response equipment requisite for an allowable security-related training
The K-12 School Safety Grant Program authorized equipment list includes:
Geospatial/Geographical Information Systems (GIS) including application software as well as integrated hardware for implementation. GIS systems support the acquisition, integration, and dissemination of geospatial data and imagery. GIS systems provide or support multiple CBRNE terrorism prevention and response functions, including (but not limited to):
- Geospatial Analysis - allows for association of intelligence and location-based information to perform complex analysis and visualization
- Decision Support - provides a mechanism to deliver actionable intelligence, supporting strategic and tactical operations
- Situational Awareness - supports a common operational picture with near real-time intelligence fused with geospatial information fully describing the area of operations in a spatial context
- Navigation
- Monitoring (tracking, weather, traffic, assets, environment, damage assessments, disease surveillance)
- Modeling - combines complex spatial information and applies modeling tools to predict consequences of events in support of planning, mitigation, response, and recovery
- Mapping - presents fused information in a standard, distributable and easily recognizable format
- Reporting (activity, after-action, alert-warning, location, situation, coverage portrayal)
School Safety and Security Grant Program (SSSG) eligible incident response equipment includes:
- Equipment bags or backpacks stocked with trauma first aid supplies;
- Two-way communication devices and software designed to interface directly with emergency responders; or
- School-wide panic alarm or panic button system.
Ohio Attorney General’s School/Law Enforcement Technology Linking Safety Grant is for crisis-response or prevention technology designed to alert law enforcement of potential safety breeches on school property. Designed for proposed expenditures for new, updated, or expanded linking technology, including but not limited to:
- Systems allowing immediate camera access to responding law enforcement.
- Silent panic alarms.
- Shot detection technology.
- License plate reader alerts for registered sex offender vehicles.
- Protection order alert systems.
- Wanted dangerous person alert systems.
The StrataSite™ Active Threat Plan™ Meets Ohio School Safety Funding Requirements 
How Schools are Preparing for the Threat of Emergency SituationsAdditional School Safety and Security Funding Opportunities
Stronger Connections Grant
Ohio was awarded $35,078,494 for the Stronger Connections Grant Program (SCG), a program of the Bipartisan Safety Communities Act (BSC) which provides historic funding to support schools in establishing safe learning environments.
COPS School Violence Prevention Program
The COPS Office School Violence Prevention Program (SVPP) provides funding directly to states, units of local government, Indian tribes, and their public agencies to improve security at schools and on school grounds in the recipient’s jurisdiction through evidence-based school safety programs and technology for coordinated emergency response.
BJA’s STOP School Violence Program
The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) STOP School Violence Program provides funding for initiatives to prevent violence in a K-12 school setting, to further the DOJ’s mission by supporting and assisting county, local, territorial, and tribal jurisdictions in improving efforts to reduce violent crime in and around schools.