Zionsville awarded nearly $150,000 Homeland Security grant for event safety

Submitted by Town of Zionsville

Every fall, thousands of people line Main Street to watch the Lions Club Fall Festival parade roll through the Village. Every Fourth of July, crowds gather at Lions Park for fireworks. On the first Saturday night in August, Main Street closes to cars so the community can dance in the street. These are the moments that make Zionsville feel like Zionsville, and now the Town has new funding to help keep them safer.

The Town of Zionsville has been awarded $149,898.86 through the Indiana Department of Homeland Security (IDHS) State Homeland Security Program (SHSP) for the Federal Fiscal Year 2025.

The grant funded vehicle barriers that the Zionsville Police Department has purchased and received.

Stehr

“We are grateful to the Indiana Department of Homeland Security for their support in our efforts to keep our town safe and secure,” Mayor John Stehr said. “It gives our public safety officers another tool in the toolbox to keep Zionsville residents and our visitors safe from harm.”

The reusable barriers will help keep residents and visitors safe at community events for years to come.

“The men and women of the Zionsville Police Department are fully committed to helping ensure safety and security for all town events,” Chief Michael Spears said. “This grant allows us to provide a higher level of protection for all.”

The State Homeland Security Program provides federal funding to help state and local agencies prepare for, protect against and respond to terrorism, natural disasters and other major emergencies. Indiana counties and municipalities apply annually through IDHS for SHSP funding to address specific, locally identified risks.