Community Traffic Safety Grant Program

The Community Traffic Safety Grant Program is administered by the Massachusetts Office of Grants and Research (OGR), which serves as the State Administering Agency for federal highway safety funds provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). This program is designed to support initiatives that reduce roadway crashes, injuries, fatalities, and related economic losses across the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. OGR operates within the state’s public safety framework and distributes federal funding to local organizations through a competitive grant process focused on measurable safety outcomes. The primary purpose of this funding opportunity is to improve road safety through community-based interventions and educational programming. The program emphasizes reducing fatalities and serious injuries to zero by supporting data-informed strategies that target key behavioral risk factors such as impaired driving, distracted driving, speeding, and pedestrian safety. Applicants are expected to identify specific traffic safety issues within their communities using local data and align their proposed activities with one or more established priority areas. The program encourages the use of evidence-based approaches and measurable objectives tied to realistic outcomes. Approximately 500000 dollars in total program funding is available for distribution among eligible nonprofit organizations. Individual awards may not exceed 75000 dollars, and OGR reserves the right to award full, partial, or no funding based on application quality and available federal funds. The grant operates as a cost-reimbursement model, meaning recipients must incur expenses first and then request reimbursement on a monthly basis. The performance period is expected to run for approximately twelve months, beginning October 1, 2026 and ending September 30, 2027. Selected applicants may be eligible for continuation funding in a subsequent fiscal year, contingent upon performance and funding availability. A mandatory 20 percent match requirement applies to all awards. This match may be fulfilled through state or local funds or in-kind contributions such as staff time or equipment usage, but federal funds cannot be used as match. All match contributions must be documented and auditable. Allowable costs include personnel, fringe benefits, indirect costs, consultants, equipment, travel, and supplies, provided they are directly related to the project and comply with federal cost principles. Certain costs, such as infrastructure improvements, promotional items, and administrative expenses, are explicitly prohibited. Eligibility for this program is limited to Massachusetts-based nonprofit organizations that hold current 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status. Organizations must either be incorporated in Massachusetts or operate a chapter within the state and must be able to legally contract with the Commonwealth. Applicants are required to obtain a Unique Entity Identifier and maintain active registration in the System for Award Management. While preference may be given to organizations with direct experience in traffic safety programming, those serving impacted populations such as youth or older adults are also encouraged to apply. The application process requires submission through an online system and includes multiple required components such as a detailed project narrative, budget worksheet, risk assessment form, and supporting documentation. Proposals are evaluated based on criteria including organizational capacity, community partnerships, needs assessment, proposed strategy, measurable objectives, and budget justification. Applicants must submit all required materials by June 12, 2026 at 4:00 PM Eastern Time. Questions must be submitted in advance by May 29, 2026, and responses are posted publicly. Award announcements are anticipated in October 2026. Applicants are expected to design structured programs with clearly defined goals, measurable objectives, and evaluation methods. Monthly reporting is required for both programmatic and financial activities, and strict compliance with state and federal requirements is enforced. OGR provides oversight through risk assessments and monitoring activities. The program coordinator serves as the primary contact for applicant inquiries and can be reached via email. Overall, this grant opportunity represents a targeted investment in community-driven strategies to enhance traffic safety outcomes across Massachusetts.

Use local data to define a specific traffic safety problem; align with priority areas; create measurable objectives; demonstrate organizational capacity and partnerships; ensure budget justification aligns with activities