The Union County Health Department has been awarded a five-figure grant to improve traffic safety in the county.
Health Department officials announced Nov. 6 that they were awarded $23,400 in federal traffic safety funding from the Ohio Department of Public Safety (ODPS)'s Ohio Traffic Safety Office (OTSO), to be used in fiscal year 2010.
Health commissioner Jason Orcena said the funds will free up more time and personnel to address traffic safety concerns.
"Partnerships are critical to the long-term success of any safety effort and we are committed to working with law enforcement and other local and state safety partners to address traffic safety concerns in Union County," Orcena said. "These funds will help ensure that we can dedicate time and personnel to these efforts."
According to public information officer Jennifer Thrush, the health department has identified that seat belt usage, impaired driving and motorcycle safety issues are affecting the safety and welfare of Union County citizens. Grant funds will be used to address those issues, along with other injury prevention initiatives, she said.
The funds are passed through OTSO from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, according to Thrush, to support the efforts of safety partners statewide and to focus on traffic safety priority areas such as restraint use, impaired driving, motorcycle safety and youthful drivers.
The OTSO accepts and reviews competitive grant proposals from state agencies, non-profit organizations, colleges, universities, hospitals, political subdivisions and other interested groups within selected Ohio counties and jurisdictions, according to Thrush.
More information on the OTSO and statewide efforts to improve roadway safety can be found on the Web at http://ohiohighway safetyoffice.ohio.gov.