Indian Highway Safety Law Enforcment Grant

The Indian Highway Safety Tribal Grants program is administered by the Office of Justice Services under the Indian Highway Safety Program, part of the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA). This initiative supports tribal efforts in traffic safety, offering grants that enable tribal governments and employees to address roadway safety challenges within their communities. The program emphasizes equitable access to funding for federally recognized tribes engaged in law enforcement, occupant protection, and traffic safety education or enforcement initiatives. It aims to foster safer road conditions through a combination of data-informed strategies, interagency coordination, and capacity building among tribal entities. The grant program provides funding for various categories relevant to traffic safety. Three primary grant opportunities are highlighted: the Indian Highway Safety Lifesavers Conference Grant, the Indian Highway Safety Law Enforcement Grant, and the Indian Highway Safety Occupant Protection Grant. These grants are targeted at enhancing skills, resources, and knowledge among tribal safety professionals. The Lifesavers Conference Grant specifically supports participation in the Lifesavers Conference, including associated travel and registration expenses. This conference session, scheduled for Saturday, April 18, 2026, in Baltimore, Maryland, offers tailored instruction and assistance to tribes preparing applications for the FY27 funding cycle. Grant applicants will be guided on multiple critical components of the application process. These include constructing a problem identification statement, compiling and analyzing traffic safety statistics, devising strategy plans, and navigating the submission protocols specific to BIA funding. Attendees of the Lifesavers Conference session will receive instruction aligned with federal regulations, ensuring that submitted proposals are both compliant and competitive. Importantly, attendance at this grant-focused session requires prior registration for the Lifesavers Conference itself, indicating a dual-level commitment to training and engagement. Eligibility for the program is exclusive to tribal employees representing federally recognized tribes, and who are directly involved in traffic safety-related work. This includes law enforcement officers, safety specialists, and program coordinators working to reduce vehicular injuries and fatalities within tribal jurisdictions. The funding is not open to the general public or non-tribal organizations, underlining the program's focused mandate to support Native communities in their highway safety efforts. The application process begins with availability of grant applications on Grants.gov starting January 6, 2026. The deadline for the Lifesavers Conference Grant is March 10, 2026, while all other grant categories have a deadline of May 1, 2026. Each of the three funding streams has an associated Grants.gov opportunity number: BIA-IHSP-2026-001 (Conference), BIA-IHSP-2026-002 (Law Enforcement), and BIA-IHSP-2026-003 (Occupant Protection). This delineation ensures applicants can easily identify and apply to the grant type that best aligns with their traffic safety goals and organizational role. For additional information or clarifications, applicants are encouraged to contact Davin Cheykaychi at (505) 375-3818. While the flyer does not provide an email address or PDF link for extended guidelines, the direct contact point enables prospective applicants to receive accurate and updated instructions. The grant cycle appears to recur annually, with clearly defined deadlines and preparation periods, enabling tribal entities to plan proactively for future applications.