”Governor Strickland has demonstrated a deep commitment to building and strengthening our partnerships with local leaders to ensure that Ohio’s communities are as safe as possible, and these grants are a great opportunity for us to work together at the local, state, county and federal level,” said ODPS Director Cathy Collins-Taylor.

The funds support the efforts of safety partners statewide and focus on traffic safety priority areas such as restraint use, impaired driving, motorcycle safety and youthful drivers. In the past three years, Ohio’s roadway fatalities have decreased to near record lows. There were 1,191 fatalities on Ohio’s roads in 2008, down from 1,257 in 2007 and 1,239 in 2006.

Over $166,000 went to Marion County in the form of three grants. The Marion County Common Pleas Court received $85,573.30; the Marion City Police Department will receive $37,748.78; and the Marion County Sheriff’s Department was awarded $43,188.91.

Competitive grant proposals were accepted and reviewed by OTSO, with funds awarded to projects that will have the greatest impact on reducing fatal crashes or significantly improving traffic safety systems. The FFY 2010 competitive grant process solicited grant proposals from state agencies, non-profit organizations, colleges, universities, hospitals, political subdivisions and other interested groups within selected Ohio counties and jurisdictions (based upon the number of fatal crashes).

OTSO awarded 180 grant proposals for FFY 2010. Federal funds were allocated to approximately 63 of Ohio’s 88 counties representing 91.8 percent of Ohio’s population (not counting the Ohio State Highway Patrol and Ohio Investigative Unit (whose grants operate on a statewide basis). Grants are given in the following categories: General Traffic Safety, High Visibility Enforcement Overtime, Occupant Protection for Children Program, Countywide OVI Task Force Program, Safe Communities Program and Traffic Engineering.