Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine has announced that the Ohio School Safety Center will award a total of $10 million in grants to fund security enhancements at K-12 public schools and colleges.

The 2021 Campus Safety Grant Program will award $5 million to qualifying public colleges and universities for improvements to physical security on their campuses. The 2021 K-12 Safety Grant Program will award an additional $5 million to qualifying public K-12 schools for similar school safety expenses.

Both grant programs were funded as part of Senate Bill 310 of the 133rd General Assembly.

"These state-based grant dollars provide an opportunity for schools to collaborate with first responders to not only identify areas of improvement for security and safety but actually have the means to do something about it and fill the gaps to keep students and staff safe," said Ohio Department of Public Safety Director Tom Stickrath.

To qualify for grant funding, schools must first do a security and vulnerability assessment to find potential areas for improvement. Funding would then be awarded to address the safety gaps. Eligible expenses include things like improved lighting in parking lots, security cameras at building entrances and secure doors.

Public colleges and universities applying for a 2021 Campus Safety Grant can submit an electronic application from now through July 16, and awards will be announced in August.

The Ohio Facilities Construction Commission will share the application and more information with public K-12 school buildings in mid-to-late summer. Awardees for the K-12 grants are expected to be announced in early 2022.