Tennessee Governor Bill Lee has announced the opening of applications for $175 million in grant funding to support public safety. According to the Office of the Governor press release, the funds are divided between the $75 million Violent Crime Intervention Fund (VCIF) and the $100 million Downtown Public Safety Grant Fund (DPSG).
Applications opened on Thursday for local jurisdictions and law enforcement agencies. The Memphis area will receive $100 million to support the Memphis Safe Task Force’s coordinated efforts.
The VCIF provides funding for programs and strategies aimed at reducing violent crime, including the formation and training of specialized units, technological investments, and evidence-based intervention models. Established in FY23, the fund is part of the state’s public safety initiatives.
The DPSG focuses on improving safety in downtown areas while supporting infrastructure, blight remediation, and economic development. Applications for both programs are due by October 24. Detailed application instructions were released yesterday.
Funding will be distributed based on local crime data for VCIF and on the merit of project proposals for DPSG. Agencies can find more information and apply through the state’s official resources.
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