Police Recruitment and Retention Grant Program

The Police Recruitment and Retention (PRAR) Grant Program is administered by the Maryland Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention and Policy (GOCPP). This initiative is part of the state’s comprehensive crime prevention and public safety strategy aimed at strengthening law enforcement agencies across Maryland. The PRAR program reflects the state's commitment to public safety by supporting local and state law enforcement entities in building and maintaining a robust, diverse, and well-supported police workforce. With persistent staffing challenges and a growing need for modern policing approaches, this program is designed to address recruitment shortfalls and enhance officer retention through sustainable and evidence-based practices. The PRAR program is built on the recognition that law enforcement agencies face a rapidly evolving set of workforce challenges, including diminished applicant pools, increased attrition, prolonged hiring timelines, and organizational burnout. In response, the SFY 2027 grant supports projects that propose innovative solutions aligned with best practices in workforce development and officer wellness. Eligible strategies include mobile-friendly recruitment tools, digital outreach, hiring incentives, peer support programs, leadership development, and initiatives that promote workforce diversity and cultural competence. Projects are encouraged to target underrepresented communities and hard-to-fill roles to achieve a broader, more inclusive impact. A total of $1.3 million in funding is anticipated for State Fiscal Year 2027, with individual awards ranging from $10,000 to $150,000, depending on the size of the applicant agency. Award ceilings are scaled based on agency size, from $15,000 for agencies with fewer than 20 sworn officers, up to $150,000 for agencies with more than 500 officers. Allowable costs include hiring and retention bonuses, tuition reimbursement, dependent care costs, mental health and wellness programs, training, and recruitment tools. Certain expenditures are explicitly unallowable, such as lateral hire bonuses, indirect costs, and general operating expenses. No cost-sharing or match is required for this funding opportunity. Applications must be submitted through the Grants Management System (GMS) by March 27, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. ET. Interested applicants must request a GMS user ID no later than March 13, 2026. Submissions must include a completed narrative addressing ten required sections, a detailed budget, organizational documents, and a staffing plan chart. Additional required uploads include signed assurances, civil rights compliance documentation, and a completed Organizational Capacity Questionnaire (OCQ). All narratives are subject to strict word limits and must be formatted according to the GMS guidelines. Incomplete applications or those missing required documents may be removed during the technical review. The performance period for funded projects begins on July 1, 2026, and ends June 30, 2027. Awards will be announced in June 2026, and funding will be distributed on a reimbursement basis contingent on quarterly reporting. Recipients will be required to track and report on output- and outcome-based performance metrics, such as number of officers hired or retained, recruitment activities, and changes in vacancy levels. Evaluation will be based on both narrative quality and budget justification, with higher weight given to project design, sustainability, and alignment with PRAR goals. This program is recurring, with PRAR NOFAs typically released each February and applications due in March. Interested parties are encouraged to prepare early and consult the relevant planning documents, including Maryland's Comprehensive State Crime Prevention Plan and the GMS Application Instructions. Questions should be directed to Grant Monitor Zahra Isaacs or Fund Manager Tabitha Wilson, both of whom can be reached via the GOCPP website. All information and the current NOFA are available at https://gocpp.maryland.gov.

Stay within strict word limits—text beyond caps is not reviewed. Submit all required uploads or risk disqualification.