The Office for Victims of Crime (OVC), a component of the U.S. Department of Justice, has announced an invitation-only opportunity under its Antiterrorism and Emergency Assistance Program (AEAP) for Crime Victim Compensation and/or Assistance in response to the Monterey Park incident. OVC administers the AEAP to provide supplemental support to states, localities, and eligible entities that face extraordinary demands following mass violence or terrorism. Funding for this program comes from the Antiterrorism Emergency Reserve, which allows OVC to respond quickly to communities in crisis. The AEAP is designed to ensure that victims of such large-scale events receive immediate relief and longer-term assistance to recover from the impact of crime.
The AEAP has four possible funding types that may be combined into a single application: crisis response, consequence management, criminal justice support, and victim compensation. These categories reflect the broad needs that arise following mass violence or terrorism, from immediate crisis counseling to helping victims navigate the justice system and securing financial reimbursement for crime-related expenses. Unlike ongoing resources for predictable violence such as gang activity or domestic violence, AEAP funding is intended for incidents that are unusual in scale or nature and beyond the capacity of state and local systems to address using their existing Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) funds.
Funding under this opportunity is retroactive to the date of the Monterey Park incident, allowing applicants to cover costs already incurred in responding to victims. All proposed use of funds must demonstrate that AEAP resources will be used solely to support victims of the incident and will supplement rather than replace existing resources. OVC may also provide no-cost consultants to help the invited applicant prepare a compliant application and ensure that expenditures align with AEAP’s purpose and restrictions.
This grant is not a competitive Notice of Funding Opportunity. OVC has identified and contacted the potential applicant directly, making this an exclusive invitation. The eligibility section specifies that “others” may apply but clarifies that only the invited entity is permitted to submit an application. This structure reflects the urgency and specificity of the AEAP, which is triggered only by exceptional events requiring federal intervention.
The total estimated program funding available under this notice is $3,389,286. Only one award is expected, and the award ceiling matches the total program funding amount. There is no cost-sharing or matching requirement. This allows the grantee to focus exclusively on delivering services to victims without having to secure additional financial resources from other sources.
The opportunity was posted on September 12, 2025, with an application deadline of September 17, 2025. Given the short window and the invited nature of the notice, the timeline underscores the emergency-response function of the AEAP. Applicants must submit through Grants.gov by the deadline. Questions regarding access to the full announcement can be directed to the Office of Justice Programs (OJP) Response Center at OJP.ResponseCenter@ojp.usdoj.gov. This contact provides applicants with direct support for technical and administrative questions during the application process.
