The state of Ohio has granted an additional $1 million to fund body armor for Ohio law enforcement.

The attorney general and the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation announced that the BWC would be granting the extra $1m in order to meet the high demand for body armor orders by law enforcement agencies. All agencies with pending applications or plans to apply for body armor are expected to benefit from the $1m pledge.

The program was created in 2018 and now has a total budget of $3.5 million.

Law enforcement agencies that pay BWC premiums are able to receive the funding; the BWC has said that 335 agencies have had funding approved so far.

The law enforcement agencies are eligible to receive $40,000, with a 25% match from local funding, to buy protective vests for their officers.