Public Safety Funding Available for East Texas Region
Criminal Justice & Homeland Security Programs • December 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.
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.
Mandatory Workshops Scheduled for Applicants
