Valparaiso has been awarded more than $1.1 million in grant funds to enhance school safety and improve walking routes surrounding Valparaiso schools, thanks to the city's resourcefulness and strong partnerships with Valparaiso Community Schools. The grants include:
Valpo Police Awarded $640,000 Grant for School Security
The Valparaiso Police Department was awarded $640,00 to promote safety within the Valparaiso Community Schools as part of the Secure Our School (SOS) program through the Department of Justice. Valparaiso's grant was one of the ten highest awards of the 167 awards given nationwide.
"We feel very fortunate during these challenging times to be able to go beyond maintaining, and continue to advance our services without increasing taxes," said Police Chief Mike Brickner. "Grants are very competitive, but we keep looking for funding and succeeding at securing grants and stimulus funds," he said.
The SOS grant will go toward school safety resources and programs designed to prevent school violence. The total grant included a match from Valparaiso Community Schools.
Valparaiso Receives $465,375 in INDOT Grants for School Routes
The City of Valparaiso has just received a $210,375 grant from the Indiana Department of Transportation to improve the safety of walking routes near Memorial Elementary School. The project will include 4,125 feet of 5-foot-wide sidewalks, plus 24 handicapped ramps, four solar-powered radar driver feedback signs, and 10 bicycle racks- all designed to enhance safety and accessibility for students and residents who walk to school, parks, and surrounding areas. The entire project is funded by the grant, with no matching funds required.
"We're delighted this grant will enhance our pathways, enable more children to safely walk to their community school and give us more continuous pathways throughout the city," said Mayor Jon Costas. The Memorial grant brings the city's total to more than $1.1 million in outside funding for improving school routes, adding more than 11,700 feet of pathways.