Gov. DeWine announces proposal to provide $250 million to first responders
The money can be used to combat a rise in violence statewide.
TOLEDO, Ohio — Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and Lt. Governor Jon Husted, Monday, announced details of a new proposal that would invest hundreds of millions of dollars into initiatives to protect Ohioans from violence and support first responder resilience and recovery.
The proposal would award $250 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds to state and local first-responder agencies to combat increases in violent crime and mitigate impacts to staffing levels and first-responder wellness caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The proposal also puts a focus on technological resilience by supporting projects that boost communications, information sharing, and cyber security by addressing gaps identified during Ohio’s emergency response to the pandemic. This includes efforts to protect critical infrastructure for local and state partners through education and outreach, as well as by developing response capabilities.
If approved by the Ohio General Assembly, the funds would be awarded through grant programs operated by the Ohio Office of Criminal Justice Services and the Ohio Emergency Management Agency.
