COLUMBUS — The Ohio Supreme Court is providing more than $2.5 million in technology funding, and Darke County Common Pleas Court is among the recipients.

The funding through the Ohio Courts Technology Initiative will be used for 109 technology projects at courts in 61 counties across the state. Chief Justic Maureen O’Connor announced the grants in February, and all courts were notified by mid-June if their grant proposals were approved.

Darke County Common Pleas Court was awarded $28,379 for video conferencing equipment.

“Financial constraints at the local level can impede needed upgrades in technology. I’m pleased that the Supreme Court could assist in filling the funding gap,” Chief Justice O’Connor said in a press release.

Supreme Court Deputy Administrative Director Mindi Wells added, “The Ohio Courts Technology Initiative was designed to provide direct benefit to Ohio courts, specifically to support the delivery of technology services and the exchange of information by and between courts and justice system partners. With the budgetary resources available this fiscal year, it was a prime opportunity to launch the technology grant program.”

The grant awards range from a few hundred dollars to a few hundred-thousand dollars for projects such as website redesigns, security upgrades, and online case information access.