December marked a transition from year-end grant closeouts to early FY26 positioning, with agencies balancing delayed timelines, compressed NOFO windows, and early signals of upcoming funding releases. DOJ activity accelerated in January as the Office of Justice Programs refreshed its funding opportunities and released multiple FY25 solicitations focused on victim services, human trafficking, officer safety, and protection of vulnerable populations, reinforcing January as a key monitoring period for public safety and community-based applicants.
Disaster mitigation and infrastructure funding stabilized after late-2025 uncertainty, with FEMA’s BRIC program restored through court action, congressional efforts underway to protect pre-disaster mitigation funding, and USDOT BUILD guidance updates signaling continued momentum for shovel-ready infrastructure projects.
Locally, opioid settlement funding continued shifting from planning to execution, with jurisdictions launching formal grant rounds and multi-year strategies for treatment, recovery, and prevention, while EPA water and wastewater funding remained a priority as communities positioned compliance and safety-driven projects tied to fire protection and system resilience.
Looking ahead, FEMA has indicated that the AFG, SAFER, and FP&S fire grant programs are expected to open simultaneously in February 2026 with an extended 6–8 week application window, making early preparation critical as competition and changing timelines continue to define the FY26 funding environment.
Key Federal & State Funding Developments
- DOJ/OJP January 2026 “Refresh” Signals New FY25 Grant Activity: The Office of Justice Programs updated its Current Funding Opportunities page on January 13, 2026, coinciding with the release of multiple FY25 DOJ solicitations. New NOFOs from the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) and the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) confirm January as a critical launch and monitoring period for law enforcement and victim-services funding.
- Expanded DOJ Focus on Victim Services, Officer Safety, and Vulnerable Populations: OVC released a coordinated suite of FY25 human trafficking and victim-services grants emphasizing survivor housing, youth protection, and collaborative service models, while BJA launched the VALOR Initiative and Kevin and Avonte Program, reinforcing DOJ’s continued investment in officer safety, missing-person response, and cross-disciplinary partnerships between law enforcement, healthcare, and social services.
- Disaster Mitigation and Infrastructure Resilience Funding Rebounded: Funding shifted from paused or uncertain to legally defended and planning-ready in late December and January. Court action restored FEMA’s BRIC mitigation pipeline, Congress signaled intent to protect pre-disaster mitigation funding through new legislation, and January BUILD program updates reinforced readiness for shovel-ready engineering and infrastructure projects.
- Local Opioid Settlement Funding Entered an Implementation Phase: As opioid settlement dollars continue to flow, counties and municipalities increasingly moved from planning to execution in late 2025 and early 2026, launching competitive grant rounds, formal NOFOs, and multi-year funding strategies focused on treatment access, recovery supports, behavioral health, and prevention.
- Opioid Settlement Tracker: Opioid Settlement Tracker
- EPA and Water Infrastructure Grants Remained a High-Priority Funding Lane: EPA water and wastewater funding particularly through State Revolving Funds (SRF), emerging contaminant initiatives, and PFAS-related infrastructure investments continued to advance into late 2025 and early 2026. Communities used the year-end period to position shovel-ready water system upgrades, treatment improvements, and compliance-driven projects in anticipation of continued EPA and state-administered funding cycles.
- Clean Water SRF overview & FY25 updates – https://www.epa.gov/cwsrf
- EPA announces ~$8.9B in SRF FY25 allotments – https://www.epa.gov/dwsrf
Useful Grant Education
Gov1: Seekonk Fire EMS receives BayCoast Bank grant for IV infusion pumps and patient care upgrades
FireRescue1: Inside look: Assessing unmanned ground vehicles for emergency response
Police1: Four federal bills affecting law enforcement families
NLC: Direct Federal Funding and Other Supports for Cities and Towns
Federal Budget Tracker - National League of Cities
December 2025 Trend Spotlight
- Public Safety Grant Programs Emphasize Prevention & Readiness
DOJ and DHS programs continue prioritizing school safety infrastructure, threat prevention, and community-based violence intervention, with competitive preference for projects demonstrating collaboration, data-driven risk reduction, and sustainability beyond the grant period.- SchoolSafety.gov Finder – https://www.schoolsafety.gov/grants-finder-tool
- Law Enforcement Hiring Remains Competitive but Strategically Targeted
Federal hiring programs increasingly favor agencies that demonstrate retention strategies, wellness supports, and community policing integration, rather than hiring alone, reflecting long term workforce stability goals.- COPS Office Grant List – https://cops.usdoj.gov/grants
- Fire Service Grants Maintain High Demand Amid Cost Pressures
Fire-related grants remain heavily oversubscribed as departments face rising costs for apparatus, PPE, and training. Applications that clearly tie requests to response time reduction, firefighter safety, and regional impact are trending more competitively. AFG, Safer, and FP&S grants are slotted to be released all in one cycle with an extended grant application date.- FEMA Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG/SAFER/FP&S) – https://www.fema.gov/grants/preparedness/firefighters
- Federal Funding Environment Remains Fluid Early in FY26
Continuing resolutions and staggered appropriations are expected to delay some NOFO releases while compressing application timelines, making early project readiness and rapid response critical.- •Federal Budget IQ FY26 Appropriations Insight – https://federalbudgetiq.com/insights/fy26-appropriations-the-clock-is-ticking-again
- Housing & Homelessness Funding Shifts Toward Crisis Response
HUD and related programs continue emphasizing emergency shelter, transitional housing, and rapid response systems, with increased documentation requirements tied to outcomes, equity, and system coordination.- HUD Funding Opportunities – https://www.hud.gov/hud-partners/grants-info-funding-opps
- Infrastructure & Transportation Programs Maintain Momentum
Despite broader federal budget uncertainty, transportation safety, roadway improvement, and accessibility programs are largely expected to stay on schedule due to multi-year authorizations and prior funding commitments. - Compliance, Reporting, and Equity Metrics Gain Weight
Federal agencies continue increasing expectations around performance measurement, equity impacts, and post-award compliance, making strong data collection plans essential at the application stage. - Applicants Face Shorter Turnarounds and Higher Competition
Agencies may issue condensed NOFO windows to realign fiscal calendars, rewarding jurisdictions that maintain up-to-date resolutions, vendor quotes, and project narratives.
Public-Safety vs. Non-Public-Safety Grants
| Grant Program | Sector | Focus | Key Nov/Dec Dates |
| BJA FY25 VALOR Initiative | Public Safety | Officer safety, wellness, and survivability; training and equipment | Due Feb 5 |
| OVC FY25 Housing Assistance for Victims of Human Trafficking | Public Safety | Transitional and emergency housing for trafficking survivors | Due Feb 24 |
| OVC FY25 Integrated Services for Minor Victims of Human Trafficking | Public Safety | Coordinated services for child and youth trafficking victims | Due Feb 24 |
| OVC FY25 Enhanced Collaborative Model (ECM) Task Force to Combat Human Trafficking | Public Safety | Multidisciplinary task forces and coordinated response models | Due Feb 24 |
| HUD FY25 CoC & YHDP Grants | Non-Public Safety | Homelessness services, youth housing programs | Due Jan 14 |
| USDOT FY26 BUILD Grants | Non-Public Safety | Transportation infrastructure development | Due Feb 24 |
| EPA Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (State Cycles) | Non-Public Safety | Water system upgrades supporting public health and fire protection | Jan-Feb |
Quick Application Links
IA Residential Substance Abuse Treatment (RSAT) ProgramCloses: Feb 5, 2026 IowaGrants
US DOT Port Infrastructure Development ProgramCloses February 28, 2026 Port Infrastructure Development Program | MARAD
HUD Choice Neighborhoods Implementation Grants
Closes March 9, 2026 Funding Opportunities | HUD.gov / U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
IL National Criminal History Improvement Program (NCHIP)Closes: February 18, 2026 Euna Grants - Criminal Justice Information Authority - NOFO#3242-0925 NCHIP Live Scan Equipment
Kentucky Board of Emergency Medical Services (KBEMS) Ambulance Grant
Closes December 15, 2025 Ambulance Grant Funding - KBEMS
VA Highway Safety Office (VAHSO) Grants
Closes February 28, 2026 Grants Management | Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles
