More than $50,000 worth of grants were awarded to northwest Missouri roadway safety initiatives.

The grants, announced Thursday, come from the Northwest Region Coalition for Roadway Safety.

“Our goal as a safety coalition is to partner together to keep people safe on our roads,” says Jackie Spainhower, director of the coalition’s northwest region. “Through education, enforcement, engineering and emergency medical services efforts partnering together, we know we can make a difference to reduce roadway injuries and fatalities and these grants give us the opportunity to do that.”

Twelve applications were received this year, and the following nine were approved for funding:

MoDOT Safety and Education Programs (Battle of the Belt, child passenger safety, TEAM Spirit) – $25,000

St. Joseph I’m A Safe Driver – $5612

Daviess County Sheriff’s Dept/Two Speed Guns – $4343

NW Arrive Alive Transportation Fair – $3750

Cameron PD/MO Safe Streets – $3000

MEATF (SJPD)/Underage Alcohol Enforcement – $3000

Chillicothe PD/Speed Guns – $2595

NW MO Safe Kids Instructor Certification – $2350

University Police Transportation Fair (Maryville) – $1,577

Last year, in the first round of grant awards, more than $35,000 was awarded. Seventeen applications were received and 10 were approved for funding last year as well.