Criminal Justice Grant Funding Available for East Texas Public Safety Projects

East Texas Council of Governments • December 15, 2025

Mandatory Workshops Scheduled for Applicants

Police car driving on a foggy road, emergency lights illuminated.

East Texas public agencies, nonprofits, schools, and federally recognized tribes will soon have the chance to apply for FY 2027 grant funding through the Office of the Governor’s Public Safety Office. The application window for Criminal Justice programs opens Monday, December 15, 2025, and closes Thursday, February 12, 2026.


ETCOG invites new and returning applicants from our fourteen-county region to attend free grant workshops hosted by our Public Safety team. Grant funding will be available for the following Criminal Justice programs:

  • General Victim Assistance Direct Services Program (VOCA)
  • Violence Against Women Justice and Training Program (VAWA)
  • Juvenile Justice & Truancy Prevention Grant Program (JJ/TP)
  • Criminal Justice Program (JAG)

 

Weekly workshops for each grant category will be held online from December 20 through January 20, 2026. Participation is required for all applicants.

 

To join a Criminal Justice grant workshop, visit www.pineywoods911.com/criminal-justice. Sessions are held on Tuesdays from 10:00 am to 11:15 AM on these dates:

  • December 30, 2025
  • January 6, 2026
  • January 13, 2026
  • January 20, 2026

 

“The goal is to improve public safety, support victims of crime, and help jurisdictions address gaps in the region with funding that encourages practical solutions,” said ETCOG Public Safety Director Stephanie Heffner. “We guide applicants on what to include in their proposals and what they need to track once funding is awarded, so we can keep bringing strong public safety projects to East Texas.”

 

At this time, funding for Homeland Security grant projects is paused. ETCOG will announce workshops to apply for the State Homeland Security Program and Law Enforcement Terrorism Prevention Activities grants once they open. 

Recognizing National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, April 12–18, 2026

By ETCOG Public Safety • April 1, 2026
National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, observed April 12–18, 2026 , honors the dedication, service, and sacrifice of the public safety telecommunicators who answer the call when emergencies happen. Held each year during the second week of April, the observance recognizes the professionals who serve as the critical first point of contact in emergency situations. At ETCOG, we are proud to recognize the telecommunicators who serve communities across our region. Their work requires professionalism, compassion, quick thinking, and a steadfast commitment to public safety. In moments of crisis, they provide calm, skilled support and help connect people to the emergency services they need. In 2025 , telecommunicators in ETCOG’s service area answered more than 174,000 9-1-1 calls and more than 20,000 9-1-1 texts . Behind each of those numbers is a person in need of help and a trained telecommunicator ready to respond. ETCOG supports the region’s dispatch offices through training, equipment upgrades, and management of the regional 9-1-1 system. These efforts help ensure telecommunicators have the tools, technology, and resources needed to serve the public effectively and efficiently. During National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, we extend our sincere appreciation to the men and women who help keep our communities safe every day. Their work is essential, and their service makes a meaningful difference throughout East Texas.

$3.1M in Criminal Justice Grants to Improve Public Safety and Support Victims of Crime Approved for East Texas

By ETCOG Public Safety • November 21, 2025
ETCOG announces that $3.1 million in grants from the Office of the Governor's (OOG) Public Safety Office have been awarded to East Texas jurisdictions and nonprofit organizations. These funds are aimed at enhancing public safety and supporting victims of crime. The program’s mission is to strengthen Texas communities by supporting initiatives that help victims recover and feel secure while also preventing crime through programs that: Prevent juvenile delinquency and support truancy prevention Provide services to victims of crime and address violence against women Support law enforcement and improve the criminal justice system Prevent child sex trafficking, bring justice to its perpetrators, and restore victims ETCOG's Public Safety Division assists jurisdictions in applying for these funds annually, and applications submitted for funding are ranked and scored by the ETCOG Criminal Justice Advisory Committee, which is comprised of local subject-matter experts from across the region. The following Victims of Crime Act, Justice Assistance, Violence Against Women Act, and Juvenile Assistance grants totaling $3,136,019.36 have been approved by the OOG for funding in East Texas:  Victims of Crime Act Funds - $2,528,962.18 The Crime Victims Assistance Grant Program (VOCA) devotes resources to providing direct services to victims of crime to help them recover and navigate the justice system.
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