Let's talk about something that doesn't come up enough in conversations about physical security and safety infrastructure: the money that's already available to pay for it.
Two federal grant programs are currently open, or opening soon, with hundreds of millions of dollars allocated specifically for security technology, equipment, and infrastructure. If your organization qualifies, these programs could fund access control systems, surveillance cameras, mass notification systems, intrusion detection upgrades, and more. At no cost to you, or at a very manageable match requirement.
Express-Tek helps organizations access these programs and then delivers the security systems that the funding is designed to purchase. We want to make sure the right people know this funding exists. A lot of eligible organizations simply aren't aware of it.
Program 1: FEMA Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP)
The FEMA Nonprofit Security Grant Program has approximately $274.5 million available for FY 2026.
Sub-recipients can receive up to $200,000 per site with no cost-share requirement. That means eligible nonprofits could receive a full grant, no matching funds needed.
Eligible uses include contracted security personnel, security-related planning, exercises and training, and, critically, the acquisition and installation of security equipment on property owned or leased by the nonprofit at the time of application.
That last category covers a wide range of physical security technology: access control systems, video surveillance, perimeter security, intrusion detection, mass notification systems, and related infrastructure. If your nonprofit has been putting off security upgrades because of budget constraints, this program exists precisely to address that gap.
Who qualifies?
Nonprofit organizations at high risk of terrorist or extremist attack, this includes houses of worship, cultural institutions, nonprofit schools, community centers, and similar organizations. Applications flow through each state's State Administrative Agency (SAA), so the first step is contacting your state's SAA to understand the local deadline and application process.
Program 2: COPS Office School Violence Prevention Program
The COPS-SVPP is a U.S. Department of Justice program with projected funding of $73 million for the upcoming cycle. Maximum awards reach $500,000 per applicant, with a 25% match requirement.
Eligible applicants include local and state law enforcement agencies, units of local government (counties, cities, school districts), federally recognized Indian tribes and their public agencies, and public government agencies.
The program funds evidence-based school safety programs and technology, with an explicit list of allowable equipment that reads like a security technology checklist: access controls, doors, public address and mass notification systems, surveillance cameras, panic buttons, and other target-hardening solutions. It also covers coordination with local law enforcement and training for officers.
If you're a school district, county government, or law enforcement agency that has been prioritizing school security but struggling with budget, this program can move the needle significantly.
Now is the time to begin the preparation process so you're ready to move quickly when dates are confirmed.
Why Grant Timing Matters More Than Most People Realize
Here's something we see consistently: organizations that wait until a grant is awarded to start thinking about implementation end up in a difficult position. Award to completion timelines are often tight. Procurement processes take time. Vendor selection, scope development, design work, and permitting all have to happen before a single piece of equipment goes in.
The organizations that execute successfully are the ones that have done their homework before the award letter arrives. They know what systems they want, they've had conversations with qualified vendors, they have a general sense of scope and cost, and they're ready to move.
That's where a conversation with Express-Tek before your grant application is submitted, or immediately after, pays real dividends.
What Express-Tek Brings to Security Projects
We're not just a company that installs cameras. Our security practice spans the full range of physical and electronic security systems, and we serve a wide variety of clients across education, government, healthcare, public safety, defense, and nonprofit sectors.
Our security capabilities include access control and electronic security systems, video surveillance (with certifications from Avigilon, Bosch, Hanwha, and Axis Communications), biometric and weapons detection, intrusion detection and monitoring, fire alarm and life safety systems, public address, intercom, and mass notification systems, and DAS and network infrastructure to ensure your systems actually communicate reliably.
We also hold manufacturer certifications from LenelS2 by Honeywell, Avigilon, Hanwha, Brivo, Bosch, Axis, Salient, and others, meaning our technicians have been trained and certified by the manufacturers whose products they install. That matters for warranty coverage, system performance, and accountability.
For school and government security projects specifically, we have direct experience with the kinds of integrated systems that meet COPS-SVPP requirements: unified access control, camera networks, mass notification, and coordination with law enforcement. We've done this work in K-12 environments. We understand the unique sensitivities of designing security for a school.
Our Grant Support Capability
Beyond installation, Express-Tek also offers grant support and planning services. We help clients understand which programs they're eligible for, what documentation and specifications they need to develop, and how to structure a security technology proposal that aligns with program requirements.
This isn't legal or financial advice, you'll want your grant writer and compliance team involved. But we can be a knowledgeable technical partner who helps ensure that the security scope you're proposing is realistic, appropriately scoped, and aligned with what the funding program is designed to support.
The Bottom Line
Federal funding for security upgrades is available. The programs are real, the money is significant, and the eligible uses directly match the security systems that organizations need most. The question isn't whether it's worth pursuing, it's whether your organization is positioned to move when the window opens.
If you work with a nonprofit, a school district, a local government, or a law enforcement agency and want to understand whether these programs might be relevant to your security needs, reach out. We're happy to have a straightforward conversation about what's possible.
The funding is there. The expertise is here. Let's connect.