Limited English-Speaking and Deaf and Hard of Hearing Training (DHHT) Competitive Grant Program

The 2026 Limited English-Speaking and Deaf and Hard of Hearing Training Competitive Grant Program is administered by the Michigan State Police, Grants and Community Services Division (MSP GCSD). This grant program aims to improve law enforcement communication and interaction with Michigan’s limited English-speaking and Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) communities. The initiative provides financial support to Michigan-based agencies that offer specialized in-person training programs focused on building communication capacities within these populations. It is designed as a competitive grant process to ensure programmatic quality, alignment with training standards, and organizational readiness. To qualify, applicants must meet strict eligibility criteria. They must hold both a current Oral Transliteration Certificate, held for at least one year, and a current certificate from the International Accreditors for Continuing Education and Training. Agencies are also required to demonstrate previous experience in delivering in-person training to law enforcement officers. These measures are intended to ensure that only qualified organizations with relevant expertise and certified credentials receive funding. Proof of all credentials must be submitted along with the application. Furthermore, the applicant must detail the design and delivery of their training program, including how recently it was developed or updated, and provide evidence of the scale and type of law enforcement training previously offered. Funding may be requested up to a maximum of $450,000 per applicant. The grant is limited to supporting programmatic and operational expenses directly related to the training program. These may include curriculum development, facilitator costs, materials, training delivery logistics, and administrative overheads specifically tied to implementation. However, funds must not be used to supplant existing state, local, or tribal budgets. All funded expenses must be incurred by June 30, 2029, with full reimbursement requests due by September 30, 2029. The submission process requires applicants to complete the official grant application form, prepare a five-page project narrative in PDF format, and submit a detailed Budget Worksheet. These materials must be submitted electronically to [email protected] no later than 12:00 p.m. (noon) EST on Wednesday, April 1, 2026. Applications that are late, incomplete, or noncompliant with formatting requirements will not be reviewed. Once submitted, the application is subject to the Freedom of Information Act and may be publicly disclosed. The review process for submitted applications is structured using a scoring rubric. Reviewers assess elements such as the quality of the training design, clarity and feasibility of goals and performance measures, organizational capacity, and the detail provided in budget documentation. Each section receives a score, with particular emphasis on SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound) goals and the level of detail regarding training updates and delivery experience. Following submission, applicants will be notified of award or denial decisions beginning May 1, 2026. Projects must begin within 60 days of the award date. Recipients are required to submit quarterly Progress Status Reports (PSRs) and Financial Status Reports (FSRs) throughout the grant period. PSRs must document activities, barriers, and progress toward performance goals, while FSRs must include detailed expense records with supporting documentation. Noncompliance with reporting or budgetary rules may result in suspension or revocation of the grant. The program will operate from June 1, 2026, through September 30, 2029.

Follow SMART goals; ensure clarity, formatting, and eligibility certifications are met.