Blog Post

Public Safety Funding Available for East Texas Region

Criminal Justice & Homeland Security Programs • Dec 13, 2019

Mandatory Workshops Scheduled for Funding Applicants

Local governments, independent school districts, colleges, universities, non-profit organizations, and state agencies now can 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 Department. Training for both the Criminal Justice Division and the Homeland Security Program will be held at the ETCOG office, 3800 Stone Road, Kilgore, TX. Grant funding is available for the following programs: 

Criminal Justice
General Victim Assistance Program (VOCA)
Justice Assistance Grant Program (JAG)
Juvenile Justice Grant Program (JJDP or SF-421) 
Violence Against Women Justice and Training Program (VAWA)

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.”

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. There will be five workshop opportunities for each funding area this year with approximately 60 to 75 agencies in attendance. Workshops will be held at ETCOG on the following dates:

Criminal Justice
Thursday, December 19, 2019 at 9:00 – 11:30 or 1:30 – 3:30 p.m.
Thursday, January 9, 2019 at 9:00 – 11:30 or 1:30 – 3:30 p.m.
Monday, January 30, 2019 at 2:00 – 3:30 p.m.

Homeland Security
Wednesday, December 18, 2019 at 9:00 – 11:30 a.m. or 1:30 – 3:30 p.m.
Wednesday, January 8, 2019 at 9:00 – 11:30 a.m. or 1:30 – 3:30 p.m.
Wednesday, February 12, 2013 at 9:00 – 11:30 a.m. 

For more information, contact Stephanie Heffner, Director of Public Safety, at (903) 218-6461. 
Large black and white trailer used for emergency management

Regional Exercise to Test Interoperability Communications Among First Responders in East Texas

By East Texas Council of Governments • 30 Apr, 2024
Texas first responders are gearing up for a communication training that will address communications interoperability during emergencies. Coordinated by the East Texas Council of Governments and the Texas Department of Public Safety – Texas Division of Emergency Management, this workshop marks a collaborative effort to bolster emergency communication systems and emphasize the importance of seamless communications in crisis situations. Over three days, from May 17th to May 19th, participants from various sectors will engage in radio communication tests, workshops on technological advancements, and discussion on the future of emergency communications. The exercise will kick off at the Tyler Junior College West Campus before transitioning to operational platforms for real-world testing. Interested participants are encouraged to register for the event at www.preparingtexas.org and search for “Regional Communications” in the main search bar to join the collective effort to enhance public safety communication across Texas and the East Texas region.
female dispatcher looking at 911 address map

ETCOG Adds Cherokee County to 911 Addressing Program

By East Texas Council of Governments • 03 Jan, 2024
The East Texas Council of Governments (ETCOG) has extended its 9-1-1 addressing program to Cherokee County, enhancing emergency response capabilities for the region.
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