Governor Eric J. Holcomb announced the approval of more than $29.8 in matching state grants, marking the fifth straight year of record-breaking investments in the safety of Indiana schools.

News Release

Governor Eric J. Holcomb announced the approval of more than $29.8 in matching state grants, marking the fifth straight year of record-breaking investments in the safety of Indiana schools.

In Kosciusko county, the following schools were issued the following grant amounts:
• Lakeland Christian Academy was allocated $91,083.
• Sacred Heart School was allocated $34,776.
• Tippecanoe Valley School Corporation was allocated $100,000.
• Warsaw Community Schools was allocated $100,000.
• Wawasee Community School Corporation was allocated $65,000.

In Elkhart County, the following schools were issued the following grant amounts:
• Bethany Christian School was allocated $5,835.20.
• Goshen Community Schools was allocated $100,000.
• Wa-Nee Community Schools was allocated $100,000.

In Marshall County, the following schools were issued the following grant amounts:
• Argos Community Schools was allocated $80,540.
• Bremen Public Schools was allocated $36,842,50.
• Culver Community School Corporation was allocated $93,024.01.
• Plymouth Community School Corporation was allocated $27,750.
• Triton School Corporation was allocated $45,000.

In Fulton County, the following schools were issued the following grant amounts:
• Caston School Corporation was allocated $65,000.
• Rochester Community School Corporation was allocated $49,365.

In Noble County, the following schools were issued the following grant amounts:
• Central Nobel Community School Corporation was allocated $88,839.15.
• East Noble School Corporation was allocated $93,024.01.
• West Noble School Corporation was allocated $100,000.

In Wabash County, the following schools were issued the following grant amounts:
• Saint Bernard Elementary School was allocated $34,560.
• Wabash City Schools was allocated $40,000.

In Whitley County, the following schools were issued the following grant amounts:
• Whitko Community School Corporation was allocated $50,000.
• Whitley County Schools was allocated $100,000.

Earlier this year, the Indiana General Assembly approved Gov. Holcomb’s 2023 Next Level Agenda budget proposal to increase the Secured School Safety Grant (SSSG) by $25M each year. Due to additional funding from the Indiana Department of Homeland Security (IDHS) budget, the Board voted to approve all application requests, totaling 605 projects for 474 schools.

“These school safety grants represent another example of historic investments in public safety,” Gov. Holcomb said. “I am pleased we are able to financially support every school that identified safety as a top priority.”

Since 2013, Indiana has invested in school safety, when the SSSG program was initiated.

For this fiscal year, the board approved $29,824,803.67 in school safety funding. The performance period for the grants begins September 1. Gov. Holcomb’s 2023 agenda also included significant modernizing reforms to the SSSG through House Enrolled Act 1492, including broader access, greater flexibility and new uses.

The breakdown of applicants and grant money allocated for each is as follows:
• There were 302 applicants for Student Resource Officer/Law Enforcement Officer grants, with $19,425,611.83 allocated.
• There were 208 applicants for Equipment, Tech and Hardware grants, with $8,325,667.02 allocated.
• There were 31 applicants for Student and Parents Support Services grants, with $1,150,253.41 allocated.
• There were 21 applicants for Training grants, with $160,820.29 allocated.
• There were seven applicants for Firearm Training for Staff grants, with $101,979 allocated.
• There were six applicants for AEWS grants, with $100,737.50 allocated.
• There were seven applicants for Site Vulnerability Assessment grants, with $20,962.82 allocated.
• There were two applicants for Bullying Prevention grants, with $17,000 allocated.
• There were 11 applicants for Design and Construction grants, with $521,771.80 allocated.
• There were no applicants for Post-Incident Counseling Services grants, so there was no money allocated.

“Since the inception of the Secured Schools Safety Grant program, we have listened to schools across the state about what they see as their greatest needs in the way of safety,” said IDHS Executive Director Joel Thacker. “As a result, this year we can offer more eligible funding categories than ever before, leading to safer schools and an overall better learning environment.”

The Indiana School Safety Hub provides schools with a wealth of resources, training opportunities and other information designed to give schools the tools they need to keep students and staff safe.