Twenty-Two (22) Public Safety Grants Approved for East Texas
East Texas Council of Governments • October 29, 2020
$2.5M in Homeland Security Grants Aim to Improve Safety in Region
ETCOG announces $2.5 million in grants from the Office of the Governor’s (OOG) Homeland Security Grants Division awarded to East Texas jurisdictions to prevent terrorism and improve security. This funding from the OOG assists Texas jurisdictions in building, sustaining, and delivering core capabilities to further the National Preparedness Goal which is, “A secure and resilient Nation with the capabilities required across the whole community to prevent, protect against, mitigate, respond to, and recover from the threats and hazards that pose the greatest risk.”
ETCOG’s Public Safety Division assists jurisdictions to apply for these funds annually, and applications to be submitted for funding are ranked and scored by the ETCOG Homeland Security Advisory Committee, which is comprised of local Emergency Management Coordinators and first responders from across the region.
The following State Homeland Security Program and Statewide Emergency Radio Infrastructure grants were approved last week by the OOG for funding:
State Homeland Security Program – 1-year projects $485,655.51
Grant period runs 9/1/2020 - 8/31/2021
Statewide Emergency Radio Infrastructure – 2-year projects - $2,100,000.00
Grant period runs 9/1/2020 - 8/31/2022
These grants will be allocated to ETCOG from the OOG to be passed through to the local jurisdictions.
“Statewide Emergency Radio Infrastructure grant awards, for the ETCOG region, are extremely important. Our local jurisdictions are receiving funding for large ticket items like towers and radio systems that are very expensive. These grants will help our jurisdictions significantly,” said ETCOG’s Public Safety Director, Stephanie Heffner.
For more information, contact ETCOG’s Director of Public Safety, Stephanie Heffner, at 903.218.6461.
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.
