Township Safety Sign Grant Program

The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) administers the Township Safety Sign Grant Program, a statewide initiative aimed at improving traffic safety on township roads. With an annual allocation of $2 million, the program offers eligible Ohio townships up to $50,000 worth of safety signage materials, including signs, posts, and hardware. The primary objective of this program is to reduce roadway crashes and improve visibility and navigational safety through standardized, updated signage across rural and suburban townships. Townships in Ohio that have either never received this grant or received it in or before 2019 are eligible to apply for Fiscal Year 2027. The eligibility list is publicly provided to confirm qualifying jurisdictions. Priority is given to townships that have never applied before, ranked by crash severity data from the past five years. Previously funded townships may still apply, but will be considered after first-time applicants, again based on crash history. Funding under this program is restricted to physical signage items only. Allowable items include standard regulatory and advisory signs (e.g., speed limits, stop signs, curve warnings), mounting posts, and hardware necessary for installation. The program does not cover labor or installation services; rather, townships are responsible for the placement of materials. Additionally, townships may include signage needs for villages within or bordering their township boundaries, provided total costs remain under the $50,000 cap. The application process requires several preparatory steps. Applicants must first complete a series of three eLearning training modules hosted by MyODOT. These modules cover an overview of the grant, how to determine sign needs, and how to calculate appropriate advisory speeds using ball bank indicators for curves. Completion of these modules is mandatory prior to submission. Townships must also analyze crash data via a crash history map and compile a list of required signage using grant-provided criteria. The application window is open now and will close on Friday, June 5, 2026. All applications must be submitted through ODOT’s online portal. It is strongly recommended that applicants draft their application offline using the printable form provided before submitting online. Applicants will be notified of their status in August 2026. Awards are based on crash data severity rankings and previous participation. For assistance or questions, townships can contact Tina Potter at 614-387-7359 or via email at [email protected]. Another point of contact is Victoria Beale at 614-466-3129. This is a recurring grant issued annually, with the next expected cycle anticipated in March 2027 based on the current pattern and application cycle.

Do not use home addresses for shipping; complete all training modules before applying; double-check township email and shipping information before submission.