FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WOWO): Some local school districts received their share of $10-million in school safety grants distributed throughout Indiana Thursday.

Governor Mike Pence announced grants of $50,000 each for East Allen County Schools and Northwest Allen County Schools, while Fort Wayne Community Schools received about $49,000. EACS officials will use the money for a school resource officer, NACS will spend their money on equipment, and Fort Wayne's allocation will be split between equipment and a school resource officer of their own.

The Secured School Safety Grant program is a dedicated state grant fund that provides matching grants to school corporations, charter schools, or coalitions of school corporations and/or charter schools applying jointly to conduct a threat assessment, purchase equipment to restrict access to the school or expedite the notification of first responders; and/or employ a school resource officer.

“I am thankful today to announce the newest distribution from the Secured School Grant Program for the safety of Indiana’s school children, and for those who teach, mentor and help them at school,” said Governor Pence. “The safety of our kids is our highest priority, and this grant program continues to be a valuable partnership between local schools and the state.”

This year’s funding comes from the account’s $3.5 million original allocation, $3.5 million from excess Indiana Department of Homeland Security admin funds, as announced by Governor Pence in early October, and more than $3 million in unspent and unallocated funds from previous years. These carryover funds continue to increase as grants from previous years go unused and the money is returned to the state.

This is the third time Secured School Safety grants have been awarded.