The grants
Plain language. Last checked October 2026. Rules change yearly, so confirm with your state grant office before you commit.
Federal
Best fit
No local match
FEMA Counter-UAS (C-UAS) Grant Program
The $500 million drone security grant. Utah becomes eligible in the next round.
What it's for: Helping state and local agencies detect, track and respond to drone threats at critical infrastructure, public events and disaster scenes.
Who can get it
- Police and sheriff's offices
- Emergency management
- Fire and EMS
- Corrections
- Public airport and port authorities
- Other public safety agencies
What it pays for
- Drone risk assessments
- Response plans and SOPs
- Detection equipment (radar, RF, cameras, Remote ID)
- Training for your people
- Tabletop exercises
- Consultant services for planning
How it works
- FEMA publishes a funding notice. The first round went to World Cup host states. The next round, about $250 million, is open to all 56 states and territories.
- Your agency applies through Utah's Division of Emergency Management (DEM). DEM applies to FEMA and passes awards down to local projects.
- Last round's window was about five weeks. Agencies with a plan already in hand had the advantage.
- No cost share. The grant can fund 100% of an approved project.
What ClearPoint helps with
- Drone Vulnerability and Risk Assessment, done before the window opens so your application has real data
- Response plan, SOPs and the written policy federal law now requires
- Vendor-neutral detection system design, so you buy the right sensors once
- Training and tabletop exercises for your team
Federal
Drone detection allowed
Annual
Homeland Security Grant Program (SHSP and UASI)
The big annual preparedness grant. Drone detection is now an approved use.
What it's for: Building state and local capacity to prevent and respond to terrorism. Over $1 billion nationally each year.
Who can get it
- State, local and tribal agencies
- Applied for through Utah DEM each spring
- Projects flow through Utah's regional councils and county emergency managers
What it pays for
- Drone detection equipment
- Planning and SOPs
- Training and exercises
- Soft target and crowded place protection
How it works
The grant rules say agencies must develop SOPs and provide training before buying drone detection. That means the planning work comes first, and it is fundable.
What ClearPoint helps with
- The SOPs and training the grant requires before any purchase
- Fitting a drone project into your existing homeland security investment plan
Status: FY2026 closed July 24, 2026. The next cycle opens in spring.
Apply through: Utah DEM.
Program page: FEMA HSGP.
Federal
Counter-drone is a named use
Deadline Oct 9, 2026
Byrne Justice Assistance Grant (JAG)
The everyday law enforcement grant. Congress just added counter-drone to it.
What it's for: Broad support for state and local criminal justice, from equipment to training to technology.
Who can get it
- Cities and counties with a direct allocation
- Smaller agencies through the state JAG program
- Tribal governments
What it pays for
- Approved counter-UAS systems
- Protecting critical infrastructure, mass gatherings and public facilities from drone threats
- Training, planning and contract services (general JAG categories)
How it works
Formula based. Counter-drone purchases need prior approval from the Bureau of Justice Assistance and a short certification form. Equipment must be on the federal approved technology list.
What ClearPoint helps with
- Picking equipment that is on the approved list
- The assessment and plan that justify the purchase
- Training your officers on the system you choose
Federal
Drone detection allowed
Narrow eligibility
Port Security and Transit Security Grants
For ports and large transit systems. Drone detection is a listed project type.
Who can get it
- Port authorities and port facilities
- Transit agencies named in the FEMA notice
What it pays for
- "Unmanned Aircraft Systems and detection technologies"
- Risk assessments and planning
- Training and exercises
What ClearPoint helps with
- Facility-specific drone risk assessment
- Detection design that fits your existing security systems
Federal
Likely fit
Corrections
BJA Justice Reinvestment Initiative (Corrections)
For prisons and jails fighting contraband drops.
Who can get it
- State and local corrections agencies
- Up to $4 million per site
What it pays for
- "Fortifying correctional environments" against contraband
- Counter-drone technology is a listed example
What ClearPoint helps with
- Perimeter drone risk assessment
- Detection design for a fixed site
- The standing operations plan federal rules allow for fixed facilities
Federal
Assessment is a named cost
K-12
COPS School Violence Prevention Program (SVPP)
The physical security grant for public schools. It requires a safety assessment and will pay for one.
What it's for: Helping school districts and their law enforcement partners harden campuses: access control, cameras, emergency alerts, fencing, officer training, and the assessment that decides what to buy.
Who can get it
- Public school districts and charter districts
- School boards
- Cities, counties and tribes
- Law enforcement agencies applying for schools
- Not individual private schools
What it pays for
- "School safety assessments" (a listed allowable cost)
- Consultant services for needs analysis
- Security cameras and systems
- Access control, emergency alerts, visitor management
- Training for officers and SROs
How it works
- Up to $500,000 per award. 25% cash match, waived for microgrants under $100,000.
- Every funded school must complete a comprehensive school safety assessment within the grant period, unless one was done in the last three years.
- The grant can pay for that assessment. No specific tool is required.
- Opens each spring. FY2026 closed August 11, 2026.
What ClearPoint helps with
- The required school safety assessment, with a drone and airspace layer most assessors skip
- Working with your County Security Chief so the assessment also meets Utah's annual requirement
- Picking cameras and alert systems that fit the assessment findings
Note: Drone detection equipment is not on SVPP's allowable or unallowable lists. Ask the COPS Office before budgeting it. The sister program, BJA STOP School Violence, funds behavioral threat teams and reporting apps, not physical security.
Federal
Drone detection named
50% match
Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG)
The all-hazards grant for emergency managers. Drone detection equipment and services are now allowed.
Who can get it
- State, county, city and tribal emergency management
- Applied for through Utah DEM each year
What it pays for
- "Equipment or services for the detection, tracking, or identification of drones and drone signals"
- Emergency Operations Plans and annexes
- Training and exercises
How it works
Non-federal funds must cover at least half the project cost. Most EMPG money already pays staff, so this works best for a county that has local match ready and wants a drone annex plus a detection subscription.
What ClearPoint helps with
- A drone threat annex to your Emergency Operations Plan
- Detection-as-a-service options that fit an EMPG budget
- Tabletop exercises
Status: FY2026 closed July 10, 2026. Next cycle expected spring 2027.
Apply through: Utah DEM.
Program page: FEMA EMPG.
Federal
Does not fund assessments
Partial fit
Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP)
For houses of worship, private schools and nonprofit facilities. Up to $200,000 per site.
Who can get it
- 501(c)(3) nonprofits at risk of attack
- Applied for through Utah DEM
What it pays for
- Security plans and protocols
- Employee security training
- Response exercises
- Physical security equipment
Important: This grant will not pay for a risk or vulnerability assessment. But you must include one with your application. Many nonprofits fund the assessment themselves, then use the grant for the plan, training and equipment that follow.
What ClearPoint helps with
- The assessment that makes your application stronger (self-funded)
- The drone response plan and staff training the grant can cover
Status: FY2026 closed. Next cycle expected summer 2027.
Apply through: Utah DEM.
Program page: FEMA NSGP.
Private sector
Indirect path
Private infrastructure, stadiums and venues
You can't receive these grants directly. Your local public safety agency can.
Federal preparedness grants go to government agencies. A private utility, data center or arena is not an eligible recipient.
The path that works: the police department, sheriff or county emergency manager responsible for your site applies for a project that protects it. The agency owns the equipment and the contract. You get the coverage.
What ClearPoint helps with
- Your own site assessment, which you can fund directly and share with the agency
- Introductions and a joint plan with your local public safety partner
- Detection options you can lawfully run yourself today (cameras, radar, acoustic)