Manchester gets just over $2 million in SAFE grants

CONCORD, N.H. – The Public School Infrastructure Commission has awarded a total of $8 million in fiscal years 2026 and 2027 appropriations to fund 259 school safety projects statewide, including just over $2 million to Manchester.

Part of the Security Action for Education (SAFE) grants program, this fourth round of funding will be used to enhance surveillance, emergency alerting and access control at 149 schools in New Hampshire.

“School safety continues to be a top priority, and the State of New Hampshire recognizes the importance of ensuring that students can learn and grow in a safe and secure environment – knowing that meaningful efforts are being made to protect children, educators and staff throughout the school day,” said Commissioner Caitlin D. Davis of the New Hampshire Department of Education.

To date, more than $50 million in Public School Infrastructure funds have been awarded since its inception in fiscal year 2018 – aiming to improve the physical safety of school buildings statewide.

Projects that were prioritized during the fourth round of SAFE grants include new or updated school facility locks, bollards, gates and fencing, as well as the installation of new or updated exterior cameras, camera monitors, blue light emergency beacons, phone systems and exterior door alarms.

“Every dollar spent on making New Hampshire schools safer brings peace of mind to students, staff and parents,” said Robert Buxton, Director of the Department of Safety’s Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. “This continued grant funding shows that school safety remains a priority in the Granite State.”

Schools that were unable to secure SAFE grants in previous rounds were prioritized in the new grant application process, and grants were capped at a total of $150,000 per school. In addition, schools located in communities with lower equalized valuation and median family income were also prioritized. The Manchester School District was awarded the largest number of grants during round four.

The fourth round of SAFE grants application window closed on December 8, 2025. The Department received 702 applications for projects totaling $24 million. The applications were presented to the Public School Infrastructure (PSI) Commission on January 9, 2026. The commission awarded a total of $8 million in FY 2026 and 2027 appropriation. Projects having an anticipated start date prior to July 1, 2026 are being awarded with 2026 appropriations, and are funded in January 2026. All other awarded projects are awarded with FY 2027 appropriation, and will be funded in July 2026.

The commission recommended the newly appropriated funds be awarded to schools that did not receive awards in the prior rounds of the SAFE grant, with any remaining funds being awarded considering the building aid factor with schools located in communities with lower rates being prioritized.

A list of awards for Manchester schools can be found below.