The Stronger Connections Grant Program (SCG), administered by the Arizona Department of Education (via federal Bipartisan Safer Communities Act), is a state grant program that provides dedicated funding for school safety and security improvements in Arizona. With $20 million in available funding, this program represents a significant opportunity for eligible applicants to invest in protective infrastructure, safety training, and security technology. Covers three school years (sy23-24 through sy25-26).

Eligible uses of Stronger Connections Grant Program (SCG) funding include hire, train, and support school safety officers (ssos), and ssos perform same duties as sros per existing protocol.

Eligible applicants for the Stronger Connections Grant Program (SCG) include high-need leas (public, non-profit school districts or charters), must have no sros at one or more schools, preference for small, rural, and remote leas, and preference for leas with high local crime rates. This grant program is currently active and accepting applications. – Funds initiatives to strengthen school safety and mental health supports; part of federal BSCA distributed at state level.

Organizations looking to complement Stronger Connections Grant Program (SCG) funding with weapons detection technology can explore solutions from GXC Inc., including the OPENGATE weapons detection system for entry screening and the MSD Plus portable ferrous detector. Request a quote today to find the right detection solution for your facility and grant eligibility.