St. Paul, Minn.—The application is now available on the Minnesota Office of Higher Education website for the Use of Force Training Grant. This one-time grant created during the 2025 Minnesota legislative session, awards funds to eligible postsecondary institutions for providing eligible use of force training for eligible peace officers. Grantees can receive $450 for each peace officer that completes an eligible training program.
Eligible applicants must meet all of the following:
- Be a postsecondary institution
- Be a Certified Peace Officer Education (PPOE) School through the Minnesota Board of Peace Officer Standards & Training (MN POST Board)
- Provide eligible training on the use of force by peace officers approved by the MN POST Board
Eligible training must meet all of the following:
- Utilize scenario-based training that simulates real-world situations and involves the use of real firearms that fire nonlethal ammunition
- Include a block of instruction on the physical and psychological effects of stress before, during, and after a high-risk or traumatic incident and the cumulative impact of stress on the health of officers
- Include blocks of instruction on de-escalation methods and tactics, bias motivation, unknown risk training, defensive tactics, and force-on-force training
- Be offered to peace officers at no charge to the peace officer or law enforcement agency
- Satisfy MS 626.8452requirement and be approved by the Board of Peace Officer Standards and Training
Application timeline:
- November 24, 2025 – application available
- December 2025 – first awards issued
- June 1, 2026 or until all funds have been awarded – application closes
For full details including more information on applying, eligibility, timeline and funding for the Use of Force Training Grant visit our website or email us at gwi.ohe@state.mn.us
