State Public Safety Grant Guide
Tennessee Public Safety Grants
Funding pathways, grant contacts, compliance notes, available programs, and award examples for Tennessee law enforcement, fire, EMS, homeland security, emergency management, school safety, investigations, training, and mission support.
This Tennessee public-safety grant page is part of the MAXSUR Public Safety Grant Resource Center. It is designed to help agencies identify funding pathways and planning resources for law enforcement technology, drones, surveillance, communications, officer safety, forensic capabilities, traffic safety, school safety, emergency response, training, and broader public-safety initiatives.
Tennessee agencies should use this page as a starting point for funding research, then verify all deadlines, eligibility requirements, allowable costs, and procurement rules with the official funding source, local procurement office, grant administrator, and legal counsel as appropriate.
Planning note: Tennessee currently shows a active ban in this dataset. Prohibits state agencies from purchasing drones produced by manufacturers banned under Section 889 of the NDAA. Reference: Tenn. Code § 4-56-112. Agencies should confirm current requirements before issuing solicitations, selecting technology, or spending grant funds.
Available Funding Pathways
Tennessee Grant Opportunities
The programs below include state, federal, federal pass-through, and private funding pathways that may support Tennessee public-safety projects. Use the official links to confirm current application windows, eligibility, allowable costs, and program requirements.
| Grant | Level | Source | Best Fit / Technology | Deadline Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BJA Body-Worn Camera Partnership Program | Federal | BJA | Body cameras / implementation / policy support / storage / digital evidence management | Projected: Oct 1, 2026 |
| BJA – Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Use Program (COSSUP) | Federal | BJA | Data-sharing / deflection platforms / naloxone support systems / case management / coordination tools | Projected: May 1, 2027 |
| Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grants | Federal | BJA | Crime-lab equipment / LIMS / DNA / toxicology / digital forensics | Projected: Oct 1, 2026 |
| DNA Capacity Enhancement for Backlog Reduction (CEBR) | Federal | BJA | DNA lab equipment / Rapid DNA / CODIS processing / capacity expansion | Projected: Oct 1, 2026 |
| BJA – Local JAG Direct Allocations | Federal | Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) | Equipment / investigative tools / records systems / communications / officer safety | Passed (May 1, 2026). Next Expected: Spring 2027. |
| Patrick Leahy Bulletproof Vest Partnership (BVP) Program | Federal | BJA / OJP | Ballistic vests | Projected: Jul 1, 2026 |
| BJA Residential Substance Abuse Treatment (RSAT) for State Prisoners Program | Federal / State | BJA | Treatment-program support / case management / recovery support / reentry coordination | Projected: Jan 1, 2027 |
| National Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI) | Federal | BJA | Evidence management / lab testing / case tracking / multidisciplinary coordination | Projected: Aug 1, 2026 |
| DOJ – STOP School Violence Program | Federal | BJA / COPS | Anonymous reporting systems / alerting / communication / limited school-safety technology | Projected: Jul 1, 2026 |
| CFGM – Safer Communities / Crime Prevention | Federal | Community Foundation of Greater Memphis | Crime Prevention / Youth Safety | Projected: Mar 1, 2027 |
| COPS Hiring Program (CHP) | Federal | COPS Office | Personnel / hiring support | Projected: Jul 1, 2026 |
| Community Policing Development (CPD) Microgrants | Federal | COPS Office | Pilot projects / analytics / outreach / workflow improvement / novel tools | Projected: Jul 1, 2026 |
| Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act (LEMHWA) Program | Federal | COPS Office | Wellness programming / training / clinical support / family resources | Expected: Jun 23, 2026 |
| Safer Outcomes: Enhancing De-Escalation and Crisis Response Training | Federal | COPS Office | Training delivery / scenario tools / program support | Expected: May 27, 2026 |
| COPS School Violence Prevention Program (SVPP) | Federal | COPS Office | Security equipment / access control / emergency notification / coordination support | Expected: Jun 18, 2026 |
| COPS Office – Technology and Equipment Program (TEP) | Federal | COPS | Interoperable communications / policing tech / equipment | Projected: Apr 1, 2027 |
| NACF – Community Grant Cycle | Private | East Tennessee Foundation | Public Safety Tech / Youth Safety | Projected: Jan 1, 2028 |
| Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force Program | Federal | OJJDP | Digital forensics / investigative technology / training / task-force support | Projected: Oct 1, 2026 |
| Tennessee Highway Safety Office Grants – Traffic Enforcement | Federal / State | Tennessee Highway Safety Office (NHTSA) | Patrol support / traffic-enforcement operations / outreach / grant management | Passed (Mar 31, 2026). Next Expected: Mar 2027. |
| THSO Grants – Crash Data / Traffic Records | Federal / State | TN THSO (NHTSA) | Crash data collection / analysis / information systems / records support | Projected: Mar 31, 2027 |
| CFMT – Community Impact Grants | Private | Community Foundation of Middle TN | Wellness Tech / Youth Safety | Expected: Jul 31, 2026 |
| OVW – Improving Criminal Justice Responses (ICJR) Program | Federal | OVW | Case management / lethality assessment tools / victim-response technology / limited investigative tools | Projected: Apr 30, 2027 |
| Tennessee Byrne JAG Formula Grant Program | Federal / State | TN OCJP (DOJ/BJA) | Equipment / information systems / communications / digital evidence | Passed (April 2026). Next Expected: Jan 2027. |
| Tennessee Byrne State Crisis Intervention Program (SCIP) | Federal / State | TN OCJP (DOJ/BJA) | Program support / training / prevention / behavioral-health deflection | Check OAG Portal |
| TN Alternative Electronic Monitoring Indigency Fund (AEMIF) | State | TN OCJP | GPS devices / transdermal monitoring / alcohol-drug monitoring devices | (Redirect Fund) |
| Tennessee Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grant | Federal / State | TN OCJP (DOJ/NIJ) | Lab equipment / forensic tools / backlog reduction / personnel | Projected: Sep 1, 2026 |
| Tennessee Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Program | State | TN OCJP | Digital forensics / investigative technology / training / task-force support | (Task Force Support) |
| Tennessee Mental Health Transport (MHT) Grant | State | TN OCJP | Transport support / logistics / vehicles / coordination | (Non-Competitive) |
| TN National Criminal History Improvement Program (NCHIP) | Federal / State | TN OCJP (DOJ/BJS) | Criminal-history systems / data integration / record completeness | Expected: Jun 1, 2026 |
| TN Residential Substance Abuse Treatment (RSAT) | Federal / State | TN OCJP (DOJ/BJA) | Program support / testing / treatment infrastructure / coordination | Expected: Jun 1, 2026 |
| Tennessee Violent Crime Intervention Fund (VCIF) | State | TN OCJP | Technology / equipment / infrastructure / investigative support | Passed (Oct 24, 2025). Monitor for 2027. |
| DPSG – Downtown Public Safety Grant | Private | Downtown Public Safety Grant (DPSG) | Surveillance / Lighting / Economic Tech | (FY26 Allocation) |
| VCIF – Violent Crime Intervention Fund | Private | Violent Crime Intervention Fund (VCIF) | Drones / ShotSpotter / Rapid DNA | (FY26 Allocation) |
| Lowe's 2026 Community Impact Grant | Private | Lowe's Foundation | Infrastructure Tech / Safety Upgrades | Passed (Mar 20). Next Expected: Feb 2027. |
Award Intelligence
Recent Tennessee Public-Safety Award Examples
Award examples help agencies see that Tennessee departments, counties, cities, and public-safety partners do receive funding. These examples are not a guarantee of future awards, but they can help agencies understand how funding is being directed across the state.
| Awardee | Grant / Program | Type | Amount | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bradley County / Cleveland City | Local JAG FY2024 | Disparate jurisdictions joint allocation | $36,017 | FY 2024 |
| Dyer County / Dyersburg City | Local JAG FY2024 | Disparate jurisdictions joint allocation | $12,375 | FY 2024 |
| Hamblen County / Morristown City | Local JAG FY2024 | Disparate jurisdictions joint allocation | $14,776 | FY 2024 |
| Hamilton County / Chattanooga City | Local JAG FY2024 | Disparate jurisdictions joint allocation | $162,373 | FY 2024 |
| Knox County / Knoxville City | Local JAG FY2024 | Disparate jurisdictions joint allocation | $136,946 | FY 2024 |
| Madison County / Jackson City | Local JAG FY2024 | Disparate jurisdictions joint allocation | $40,881 | FY 2024 |
| Maury County / Columbia City | Local JAG FY2024 | Disparate jurisdictions joint allocation | $18,942 | FY 2024 |
| Montgomery County / Clarksville City | Local JAG FY2024 | Disparate jurisdictions joint allocation | $58,715 | FY 2024 |
| Rutherford County / Murfreesboro City | Local JAG FY2024 | Disparate jurisdictions joint allocation | $61,957 | FY 2024 |
| Shelby County / Memphis City | Local JAG FY2024 | Disparate jurisdictions joint allocation | $1,012,473 | FY 2024 |
| Washington County / Johnson City | Local JAG FY2024 | Disparate jurisdictions joint allocation | $16,869 | FY 2024 |
| Williamson County / Franklin City | Local JAG FY2024 | Disparate jurisdictions joint allocation | $10,692 | FY 2024 |
| Wilson County / Lebanon City | Local JAG FY2024 | Disparate jurisdictions joint allocation | $12,313 | FY 2024 |
| Bartlett City | Local JAG FY2024 | Direct allocation | $10,323 | FY 2024 |
| Blount County | Local JAG FY2024 | Direct allocation | $17,567 | FY 2024 |
| Greene County | Local JAG FY2024 | Direct allocation | $12,108 | FY 2024 |
| Kingsport City | Local JAG FY2024 | Direct allocation | $25,181 | FY 2024 |
| Nashville-Davidson County City | Local JAG FY2024 | Direct allocation | $494,241 | FY 2024 |
| Sevier County | Local JAG FY2024 | Direct allocation | $10,056 | FY 2024 |
| Smyrna City | Local JAG FY2024 | Direct allocation | $11,452 | FY 2024 |
| Sullivan County | Local JAG FY2024 | Direct allocation | $18,798 | FY 2024 |
The Tennessee award dataset reviewed for this page includes 21 award records totaling approximately $2,195,055 across records with numeric award amounts.
MAXSUR Solution Pathways
Connect Tennessee Funding to Field-Ready Capability
MAXSUR supports public-safety agencies with mission-focused technology, integration, training, and procurement pathways. These solution areas may align with selected grant programs when tied to eligible missions and approved costs.
Procurement Pathway
Use Grant Funding More Efficiently With Cooperative Procurement
Finding a grant is only part of the process. Once funding is identified or awarded, Tennessee agencies still need a compliant and efficient path to purchase, deploy, and support the equipment or services tied to the project.
MAXSUR’s BuyBoard contract may help eligible agencies streamline procurement, access contract pricing, and move faster from funding approval to field-ready capability for selected public-safety projects.
BuyBoard eligibility, grant allowability, and procurement requirements may vary by agency, funding source, and jurisdiction. Agencies should confirm requirements with their procurement office, grant administrator, and legal counsel before purchase.