Kehoe adds to Blue Shield awards

Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe continued to push his public safety initiative, by announcing another $10 million in state grants to 350 Missouri Blue Shield jurisdictions that earned the Blue Shield designation in 2026.

The $10 million available in Blue Shield grants are awarded equally, meaning each of the funded jurisdictions are eligible to apply for $29,070 worth of equipment or training. A total of 95 counties, 252 cities, two towns, and one school district were approved as Blue Shield communities this year.

The program requires participating jurisdictions to create comprehensive, sustainable programs to fight crime and promote safer communities. In the second year of the program, participation has jumped 74% from 201 communities last year to 350 this year.

Boone is one of the few counties that did not get designated, along with area towns such as Mexico, Paris and Montgomery City.