The Department of Homeland Security, through the Office for Domestic Preparedness is pleased to announce $35 million in direct grants to states for the Citizen Corps Program. The Citizen Corps funds will be used to support Citizen Corps Councils with planning, outreach, and management of Citizen Corps programs and activities. This program will provide the necessary resources for states and local communities to develop and sustain a local Citizen Corps Council.

“It is essential to communities across the country to involve all citizens at the state and local level in our national preparedness and prevention efforts. The local communities are the fundamental building blocks to our nation’s front lines in this war against terror,” said Secretary Ridge.

The FY ‘04 Citizen Corps funds were distributed based on a formula that provided a base amount for all states and territories and the remainder of funds based on population. The funds provide resources necessary for states and local communities to bring together the appropriate leadership to form and sustain a Citizen Corps Council and develop and implement a plan for the community to engage all citizens in homeland security, community preparedness, and family safety. In addition, the funds should be used to conduct public education to inform citizens about their role in crime prevention, mitigation, emergency preparedness for all hazards, public health measures, including bio-terrorism, and develop and implement Citizen Corps programs offering training and volunteer opportunities to support first responders, disaster relief groups, and community safety efforts.

States are required to provide no less than 80 percent of Citizen Corps funds to local units of government within 60 days of receipt of funds from the Office for Domestic Preparedness. These funds may be provided as products, services, or direct funding to directly benefit local communities who have an approved Citizen Corps Council or who will establish a Citizen Corps Council as a condition of receiving the assistance.

States will submit the Citizen Corps grant application as part of the overall “one-stop-shop” package no later than November 30, 2003. Click here for additional information and to view the state allocations.

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