Local Agency General Non-Enforcement Grant Program

The Local Agency General Non-Enforcement grant program is administered by the Illinois Department of Transportation through its Bureau of Safety Programs and Engineering. The program is funded through a combination of federal sources including NHTSA Sections 402, 405, and 1906, along with State of Illinois funds. The overarching mission of the program is to reduce traffic-related fatalities and injuries across Illinois by supporting non-enforcement strategies that focus on education, outreach, and prevention. This opportunity is structured as a competitive grant and represents a new notice of funding opportunity for the federal fiscal year cycle, specifically targeting projects that were not funded or submitted under other related non-enforcement programs within the same fiscal year. The purpose of the grant is to provide funding for local agencies and organizations to develop and implement data-driven, evidence-based traffic safety programs. These programs are intended to address key roadway safety concerns such as impaired driving, distracted driving, occupant protection, pedestrian and bicycle safety, and other high-risk behaviors. The initiative emphasizes community engagement, education campaigns, coalition building, and training initiatives that can demonstrate measurable impacts aligned with the Illinois Highway Safety Plan. Applicants are required to justify their proposed projects with local or statewide data and clearly articulate how their initiatives will improve traffic safety outcomes. Funding under this program supports a wide range of allowable activities including personnel, fringe benefits, travel, equipment, supplies, contractual services, and training. However, there are notable restrictions, such as the prohibition on reimbursing paid media campaigns and limits on certain equipment purchases like bicycles and helmets. Additional rules govern allowable costs for conferences, travel reimbursements, and personnel compensation, including the requirement that all salaries be calculated on an hourly basis. The grant operates on a reimbursement basis, requiring recipients to initially cover expenses and then submit claims for repayment, typically within thirty days of the reporting period. Eligibility for this grant is broad and inclusive, encompassing government entities, educational institutions, nonprofit organizations, private institutions, for-profit organizations, and individuals under certain conditions. Specific examples of eligible applicants include local law enforcement agencies, schools, hospitals, public health departments, and civic organizations. However, applicants are prohibited from submitting proposals that duplicate projects already submitted under other specified non-enforcement funding opportunities within the same fiscal cycle. All applicants must also demonstrate compliance with federal and state regulations, including financial accountability standards and reporting requirements. The application process requires submission through the designated online grants management system and must include detailed project narratives, performance measures, and supporting documentation such as training curricula when applicable. Applications are evaluated based on a structured scoring system totaling one hundred points, with criteria including organizational capacity, problem definition, data-driven methodology, alignment with state safety goals, and clarity of objectives and deliverables. Applicants must also define at least one project objective and two performance measures as part of their proposal. Key dates for this funding opportunity include an application opening date of June 1, 2026, and a submission deadline of July 15, 2026 at 12:00 PM. The grant performance period runs from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027. Final reimbursement claims and reporting requirements extend beyond the project period, with final submissions due by November 1, 2027. Questions regarding the application may be directed to program staff via email, and multiple subject-matter contacts are provided depending on the specific program focus area. Overall, this grant represents a strategic investment in non-enforcement approaches to traffic safety, encouraging innovative and collaborative solutions to reduce roadway risks. By prioritizing education, prevention, and community engagement, the program seeks to complement enforcement-based efforts and create sustainable improvements in public safety outcomes across Illinois.

Ensure proposals are strongly supported by local data and clearly aligned with Illinois highway safety performance measures; provide complete supporting documentation including training materials to avoid denial; clearly justify all budget expenses