Criminal Justice Grants

Law Enforcement Apprenticeship Program (LEAP)

DEADLINE:This solicitation is open to Sheriff's Offices located in fiscally constrained counties ONLY through Tuesday, September 15th, 2026. The solicitation will be opened to Sheriff's Offices statewide on Wednesday, September 16th, 2026.

Agencies located in non-fiscally constrained counties may click the link below to begin preparing their application prior to this date, however, applications should not be submitted until September 16th.

Fiscally Constrained Counties: Baker, Bradford, Calhoun, Columbia, DeSoto, Dixie, Franklin, Gadsden, Gilchrist, Glades, Gulf, Hamilton, Hardee, Hendry, Highlands, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Lafayette, Levy, Liberty, Madison, Okeechobee, Putnam, Suwannee, Taylor, Union, Wakulla, and Washington.

Overview

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) received authority to administer $5 Million in funding for the 2026-2027 fiscal year via the General Appropriations Act, Section 4, Specific Appropriation 1328A, to award funds to local Sheriffs Offices for the reimbursement of allowable costs related to the sponsorship of deputy sheriff trainees. Trainees must be registered as apprentices with the Florida Deputy Sheriffs Association Law Enforcement Apprenticeship Program (LEAP). First priority will be given to Sheriffs Offices located in fiscally constrained counties.

Eligibility

This program is open to Sheriff's Offices located in the State of Florida.

Sheriffs Offices must sign a Participating Employer Agreement with the Florida Deputy Sheriffs Association Law Enforcement Apprenticeship Program (LEAP).
Sheriffs Offices must agree to follow all rules and regulations for the apprenticeship set by FDSA and the Florida Department of Education.

Project Period

Grants will be awarded for a 12-month period beginning July 1, 2026, and ending June 30, 2027. Only allowable costs incurred during this period will be eligible for reimbursement.

Allowable Costs

Funding may be requested for trainees registered as Deputy Sheriff apprentices only. Correctional Officer and Correctional Probation Officer apprentices are not eligible for funding under this program.

Sheriffs Offices may request funding for the following allowable costs:

Salaries and associated fringe benefits for regular hours worked by an eligible Deputy Sheriff trainee during their training period.
Overtime and associated fringe benefits are eligible with additional justification showing the overtime was necessary and related to training activities.
Tuition and fees paid to a Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission (CJSTC) certified training school on behalf of the Deputy Sheriff trainee. Tuition costs must be pro-rated for the dates within the project period.
Sheriffs Offices located in fiscally constrained counties may request funding for standard-issue duty equipment and supplies, such as: uniforms, duty belts and accessories, body armor, duty weapons, laptops, mobile radios, etc. These items must be purchased specifically for the LEAP trainee during the project period.

Items such as: office supplies, furniture, software licenses or subscriptions, stipends, specialized weapons or body armor (special ops, K9, bomb squad, etc.), travel costs, vehicles, and drones are not eligible for reimbursement under this award.

Application and Award Process

Funding shall be awarded to successful applicants on a first-come, first-served basis based on the date and time the application is submitted. Agencies located in fiscally-constrained counties shall receive first priority.
If an application is re-opened by FDLE for edits or corrections, it must be revised and resubmitted by the applicant for continued consideration of funding.
FDLE will continue issuing awards until all available funding is allocated.

Please note: The amount of funding requested on the first page of the application shall be considered an estimate. The actual amount of the award shall be communicated to the applicant by the FDLE Grant Manager, along with a copy of the final budget.

Click this link to apply: FY26-27 LEAP Grant Application

Funding Request Form and Other Documentation

LEAP Funding Request forms are REQUIRED and a separate form must be completed and uploaded to the application for EACH trainee for consideration of funding:

FY26-27 LEAP Funding Request Form

The following documentation must be uploaded to the application in Euna Grants in order to avoid a Withholding of Funds condition on the final award:

A copy of the LEAP Apprenticeship Agreement for each trainee
A copy of the LEAP Participating Employer Agreement for your agency
A copy of your agency's personnel policy
A copy of your agency's procurement policy (fiscally-constrained counties only)

Questions about the LEAP Grant Program or the application process may be directed to:

OCJGSFA@fdle.state.fl.us or the assigned SFA Grant Manager.