Security grants in Louisiana: federal NSGP through GOHSEP, and a state program now limited to schools

Status on October 16, 2026

The Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (GOHSEP) is the State Administrative Agency (SAA) for FEMA's Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP). Its preparedness grants page says, "GOHSEP serves as the State Administrative Agency (SAA) for Louisiana's FEMA Preparedness Grants." Questions go to the general preparedness grants inbox, GOHSEP.PreparednessGrants@la.gov.

Federal NSGP through GOHSEP

Nonprofits apply to the SAA, not to FEMA (FY2026 NOFO). GOHSEP's page lists NSGP as "Funding for target hardening and physical security enhancement for high-risk 501(c)(3) nonprofits" and links to FEMA's program page. On October 16, 2026, it carried no FY2026 notice, no state deadline, no forms and no Louisiana-specific instructions. The NSGP program guide covers eligibility and scoring nationally, and the how-to-apply guide covers the federal document list.

The federal FY2026 cycle is over. FEMA moved its own deadline for SAAs to 5 p.m. ET on July 31, 2026 (Information Bulletin 579), and announced more than 1,600 awards on September 28, 2026 (FEMA). State deadlines came earlier, and we could not find the date GOHSEP used. NSGP deadlines tracks state dates as agencies publish them.

What GOHSEP's page does and doesn't tell you

The page names costs GOHSEP will not fund under its preparedness grants: general-use equipment, weapons and ammunition, supplanting staff, lobbying and political activity, and entertainment and social events. It points applicants to FEMA's Authorized Equipment List. It also links a GOHSEP Grants login, which it describes as the place where "Active Non-Disaster Preparedness Grant recipients log in to view status and updates." The page does not say whether NSGP subapplicants apply through that portal.

Several facts a Louisiana applicant needs are not on GOHSEP's page. Ask GOHSEP in writing, well before the next window:

• the state deadline and how the Investment Justification and attachments are submitted;
• whether GOHSEP requires a portal account or other registration before the deadline;
• any state-required documents beyond the federal list;
• which parishes are in the New Orleans Area footprint;
• how GOHSEP pays subrecipients (reimbursement or advance).

Which stream a site uses

Louisiana has one FY2026 urban area, the New Orleans Area (FY2026 NOFO, Appendix B). A site inside the urban-area footprint applies to NSGP-UA, and a site outside it applies to NSGP-S. The NOFO disqualifies a subapplicant that applies in the wrong stream and tells nonprofits to "contact the appropriate SAA" for each urban area's footprint. GOHSEP does not publish the New Orleans parish list on its page, so a site anywhere near New Orleans should get GOHSEP's answer in writing before anyone drafts.

These are total federal allocations. They include GOHSEP's 5% for management and administration (M&A), so they exceed the amount available for nonprofit subawards. The state lookup table uses the same basis. In FY2026 an organization could apply for up to $200,000 per site and up to three sites per stream, with a combined limit of $600,000 in Louisiana.

The state nonprofit grant: what the 2026 law did

R.S. 29:726.6, first enacted in 2021, is the section the FY2024 state notice cited as authority for the school and nonprofit security grant. On October 16, 2026, the Legislature's statute page for R.S. 29:726.6 shows subsections A, B(1), C and D as "Repealed by Acts 2026, No. 846, §2, eff. June 8, 2026." The only text left, B(2), names eligible schools: public elementary and secondary schools and "nonpublic schools approved by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education pursuant to R.S. 17:11." Nothing left in the section names nonprofits or houses of worship.

Act 846 originated as House Bill 821 of the 2026 Regular Session. The engrossed bill would create the Louisiana Center for Safe Schools within the Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement and Administration of Criminal Justice (LCLE) and direct it to administer school and nonprofit security programs formerly provided under Title 29. That version sets no nonprofit grant amount, eligibility rule or application process. We could not confirm whether the enrolled act kept that text.

For a nonprofit or house of worship, the current statute page supplies no state grant path, and we found no new rule or notice that does. Ask the center whether it plans to establish a nonprofit program under another authority.

The last round that took nonprofits

The FY2024 Louisiana School and Nonprofit Security Grant Program notice was the last round we found open to nonprofits. GOHSEP offered $5,000,000 in total and up to $50,000 per site. Nonprofits had to be described in section 501(c)(3), be exempt under section 501(a), hold a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) from SAM.gov, and be a K-12 educational facility, a house of worship (with or without a school on site), or a qualifying homeschool facility. A threat, risk and vulnerability assessment was required for nonprofits. Applications opened April 1, 2024, and closed at 5 p.m. CST on May 15, 2024.

The Louisiana Center for Safe Schools grant

The most recent state school round was the FY2026 Louisiana Center for Safe Schools Grant Program (LCSSGP). Its project period ran July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026. Houses of worship and other nonprofits were not on the eligible list.

Who could apply

The notice lists public elementary and secondary schools and BESE-approved school sites that meet three conditions: described in section 501(c)(3), exempt under section 501(a), and "an educational facility whose primary purpose is to instruct children on a daily basis in grades Pre-kindergarten and Kindergarten-12th grade." A district may apply for a school, but then the school can't file its own application. Only one award per site is considered. A private or religious school that isn't BESE-approved is outside this program; the private and religious school guide covers its federal route.

Amounts, uses and application

The round offered $5,000,000, with a limit of $50,000 per site. The notice states no match. It allowed security planning, equipment, training and exercises, security technology, threat awareness training, upgrades to existing structures, and security personnel.

The notice strongly encouraged applicants to address its first equipment priority before the second. The first priority included fencing, security doors, locks, vestibules, access control, lighting, cameras, film or ballistic glass, and bollards. AEDs, intrusion-detection alarms, Tasers, pepper spray, and equipment for contracted guards were not allowed.

Applications went through GMPro. Required attachments included a site safety assessment "performed within the last 36 months, or proof of scheduled site safety assessment," and a current National Incident Management System-compliant crisis or emergency operations plan.

How it pays

The FY2026 notice pays by reimbursement through GMPro, with proof of payment, original invoices and photos of completed work. Requests are due no later than 30 days before the project period ends. A subrecipient may instead elect advance pay, which it must reconcile within 90 calendar days of accepting the advance. Costs must fall inside the project period.

Status and the next round

Applications opened May 1, 2025, and closed June 30, 2025. On October 16, 2026, the center's grants page said "Coming Soon!" and linked only the FY2026 notice. The Louisiana Commission on School and Nonprofit Security's March 17, 2026 agenda lists items titled "Rollover of unobligated FY25 grant funds into the FY27 grant budget" and "FY27 LCSSGP application process." The agenda doesn't say who would be eligible, and no FY2027 notice has been published. Because Act 846 moves the center to LCLE, check both the center's site and LCLE for a new notice.

Programs compared

Using both programs

A BESE-approved nonpublic school that met NSGP's federal eligibility rules could pursue both programs in FY2026. The LCSSGP notice says, "Duplication of benefits or purchases using federal funds is not allowed." A cost paid by NSGP therefore could not also be claimed from the state grant. Keep each program's purchases separate by item and invoice, and ask the center before budgeting related work; see reimbursement requests.

This review found no parish or city security grant for houses of worship in New Orleans, Jefferson Parish or Baton Rouge. It was not exhaustive for local or private funding. Congregations can use the church, synagogue and mosque guides for the federal rules.

Official documents

If GOHSEP or the center issues a newer notice, form or instruction than these, the newer document controls.

Other states' agencies and programs are in the state lookup table.

Last checked and change log

Last checked: October 16, 2026, against GOHSEP's preparedness grants page; R.S. 29:726.6 on the Legislature's site; the engrossed text of HB 821; the center's legislation and grants pages; the FY2026 LCSSGP and FY2024 LSNSGP notices; the commission's March 17, 2026 agenda; and FEMA's FY2026 NOFO, Information Bulletin 579 and September 28, 2026 announcement.

• October 2026: Page published. FY2026 federal NSGP cycle over; GOHSEP posted no state deadline and no Louisiana award list was found. R.S. 29:726.6 shows its nonprofit subsections repealed by Act 846 of 2026 (effective date conflict noted; enrolled text not confirmed). LCSSGP closed June 30, 2025; no FY2027 notice.