Press Release - Sept 12, 2007
OFFICE OF GOV. BILL RITTER, JR.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 12, 2007
CONTACT: Evan Dreyer, 720.350.8370
GOV. RITTER ANNOUNCES HOMELAND SECURITY GRANTS
Gov. Bill Ritter today announced this year's homeland security grant awards to communities across Colorado, providing $34.2 million under the Governor's newly reformed homeland security program.
"These funds will allow local agencies, in partnership with the state, to make substantial improvements in our ability to prevent, deter, respond and recover from acts of terrorism," Gov. Ritter said. "The grants will enhance our ability to protect critical infrastructure; better communicate among agencies and with the public; improve the gathering and sharing of information; and provide better planning capabilities."
The grant allocations are the first since Gov. Ritter reformed Colorado's homeland security structure in July to strengthen and better coordinate state operations and ensure compliance with federal spending guidelines.
"With greater input from local representatives, these grant awards reflect more targeted priorities and will let us focus on our most pressing needs," Gov. Ritter said.
Under the Governor's newly restructured program, retired National Guard Maj. Gen. Mason Whitney now serves as Colorado's homeland security director. Former state Auditor Joanne Hill now oversees homeland security¿s financial component, and Kent Smiley, former Denver director of safety programs for the technology services division, heads the Governor's Continuity of Operations/Continuity of Government programs.
Whitney, along with Department of Local Affairs Executive Director Susan Kirkpatrick and Department of Public Safety Executive Director Pete Weir, helped guide the grant process.
Local agencies across Colorado submitted more than 100 projects from 30 applications seeking $53 million in funding. A review committee of 18 people, including representatives from the nine all-hazard geographical regions of the state, evaluated the applications and submitted recommendations to the Colorado Homeland Security Senior Advisory Committee. That committee's recommendations were then forwarded to the Governor.
The $34.2 million allocation includes a $14.3 million Public Safety Interoperable Communications grant to help state and local first-responders improve public safety communications during a natural or man-made disaster. The grant will fund equipment and training.
The remaining $19.9 million in grants will be distributed across the nine all-hazard regions and the Denver metro area from five primary grant programs. The grant programs and 2007 dollar amounts are:
- Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI): $7.9 million
- State Homeland Security Program: $6.4 million
- Law Enforcement Terrorism Prevention Program: $4.6 million
- Metropolitan Medical Resource System: $774,000
- Citizens Corp Program: $245,000
Broken down by geographic area, the $19.9 million is being awarded as follows:
City and County of Denver UASI: $6.3 million
North Central Region: $2.2 million
North East Region: $1.1 million
North West Region: $920,000
San Luis Valley Region: $370,000
South Region: $895,000
South Central Region: $1.4 million
South East Region: $370,000
South West Region: $995,000
West Region: $785,000
Local Agency Total: $15.3 million
State Agency Total: $3.8 million
Metropolitan Medical Response System: $775,000
Click here for a link to the state's all-hazard map. The map shows which counties are in each region.