Criminal Justice and Homeland Security Grant Funding Available for East Texas Region
East Texas Council of Governments • December 15, 2020
Local governments, independent school districts, colleges, universities, non-profit organizations, and state agencies can now apply for grant funds from the Governor’s Office, Criminal Justice Division, and Homeland Security Program. New applicants and continuing applicants in ETCOG’s fourteen (14) county region are invited to attend FREE grant application workshops hosted by the ETCOG Public Safety division. Training for both the Criminal Justice Division and the Homeland Security Program will be held virtually. Grant funding is available for the following programs:
Criminal Justice
- General Victim Assistance Direct Services Program (VOCA)
- Violence Against Women Justice and Training Program (VAWA)
- Juvenile Justice & Truancy Prevention Grant Program (Juvenile)
- Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Programs (JAG)
Homeland Security
- State Homeland Security Program – Regular Projects (SHSP)
- State Homeland Security Program - Law Enforcement Terrorism Prevention Activities (LETPA)
“The goal is to improve public safety and support victims of crime by filling gaps in the region via funding that promotes innovative solutions to regional problems,” said ETCOG’s Public Safety Director Stephanie Heffner. “We help applicants understand what needs to go into their grant applications and what they have to track once they receive funding from the state, so we can successfully bring public safety projects to East Texas.”
To apply for funding, you must attend a MANDATORY grant application workshop. Workshops will be held separately and are still mandatory for applicants who apply for both Criminal Justice and Homeland Security funding. There will be nine workshop opportunities this year, with approximately 60 to 75 agencies estimated to be trained. Workshops will be held on the following dates:
Criminal Justice
To participate in a virtual workshop, visit https://www.pineywoods911.com/criminal-justice
at any of the following dates and times, and click “Join Here.”
- Thursday, December 17, 2020, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
- Tuesday, January 5, 2020, from 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
- Wednesday, January 13, 2020, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
- Wednesday, January 27, 2020, from 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Homeland Security
To participate in a virtual workshop, visit https://www.pineywoods911.com/homeland-security
at any of the following dates and times, and click “Join Here.”
- Thursday, December 17, 2020, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
- Thursday, December 17, 2020, from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
- Thursday, December 31, 2020, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
- Thursday, January 7, 2021, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
- Thursday, January 28, 2021, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Mandatory Workshops Scheduled for Applicants
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.
