COLUMBUS, Ohio — Gov. Mike DeWine announced Monday that the grant funding available to local law enforcement will increase by $42 million.

The funds added will increase the Ohio Violent Crime Reduction Grant Program from $58 million to $100 million, according to a news release.

"Violent crime is spiking nationwide, and here in Ohio, I want to ensure that our local law enforcement agencies have as much support as possible," said DeWine in the release. "From new equipment to more staff, we're giving our agencies the flexibility to use these grants in ways that make the biggest impact on the safety of their communities."

The announcement came while DeWine visited the Whitehall Police Department, which will receive more than $630,000 from the grant program to replace aging technology in the dispatch center and to maintain emergency services for citizens.

Across the state, 99 law enforcement agencies have received $28.7 million in grants. The state will announce the next round of grant awards later this week.

The Ohio General Assembly partnered with DeWine last year to launch the program, beginnng with $8 million from the state's operating budget. 

The program expanded to include $50 million from the American Rescue Plan Act. The additional $42 million will go toward qualifying requests already submitted. The newest funding comes from ARPA funding set aside by DeWine and the Ohio General Assembly. 

Uses for this funding include but are not limited to the creation, implementation, and/or expansion of proven or promising violent crime reduction initiatives such as place-network investigations, focused deterrence, hot-spot policing and crime gun intelligence centers. Grants can also be used for recruitment efforts, retention bonuses, hiring bonuses, payroll costs, technology, equipment, training, technical assistance, analytical tools/support and overtime costs associated with implementing crime reduction strategies.

The grant program is administered by the Ohio Office of Criminal Justice Services.