Criminal Justice and Homeland Security Grant Funding Available for East Texas Region

East Texas Council of Governments • December 7, 2021

Grant Workshops to be Held to Assist Applicants

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 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 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.”

 

This year, there will be seven workshop opportunities, with approximately 60 to 75 agencies estimated to be trained. Workshops will be held on the following dates:

 

Criminal Justice

  • Monday, January 10, 2022, at 2:00 p.m.
  • Thursday, January 20, 2022, at 10:00 a.m.
  • Friday, January 28, 2022, at 10:00 a.m.

 

Only new criminal justice funding applicants are required to attend a workshop. To participate in a virtual workshop, visit www.pineywoods911.com/criminal-justice at any of the listed dates and times, and click “Click Here to Join.”


Homeland Security

  • Thursday, December 16, 2021, at 10:30 a.m.
  • Wednesday, December 29, 2021, at 2:00 p.m.
  • Wednesday, January 5, 2022, at 2:00 p.m.
  • Wednesday, February 2, 2022, at 2:00 p.m.

 

To apply for Homeland Security funding, attending a workshop is required. To participate in a virtual workshop, visit www.pineywoods911.com/homeland-security at any of the listed dates and times, and click “Click Here to Join.”

Criminal Justice Grant Funding Available for East Texas Public Safety Projects

By East Texas Council of Governments • December 15, 2025
Mandatory Workshops Scheduled for Applicants

$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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