Home Information Sharing & Analysis Prevention & Protection Preparedness & Response Research Commerce & Trade Travel Security Immigration
About the Department Open for Business Press Room
Current National Threat Level is elevated

The threat level in the airline sector is High or Orange. Read more.

Homeland Security 5 Year Anniversary 2003 - 2008, One Team, One Mission Securing the Homeland

Department of Homeland Security Awards Billions in Grants to State and Local Governments

Release Date: 03/30/04 00:00:00

For Immediate Release
Press Office
Contact:  202-282-8010
March 30, 2004

In the coming weeks, the Department of Homeland Security will award $2.2 billion from the State Homeland Security Grant Program and $725 million from the Urban Area Security Initiative to state and local governments to help first responders across the nation better protect their communities.  These funds are part of over $8 billion the Department has allocated or awarded since March 1, 2003 to help our nation's first responders and state and local governments to prevent, respond and recover from potential acts of terrorism and other potential disasters.

"Funding the capabilities of local first responders requires a national strategy of shared responsibility, shared accountability and shared leadership," said Secretary Ridge.  "Successfully delivering these funds to the communities that need them is central to our mission of increasing America's preparedness.  These dollars will purchase equipment and training that will help our first responders save lives by preventing acts of terrorism and responding if one occurs."

In total across the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Justice, this Administration has provided $13.1 billion dollars in direct homeland security grants from FY'02 to FY'04, as compared to only $1.2 billion allocated from FY'99 to FY'01 - more than a 900% increase in the commitment and spending on homeland security.

Secretary Ridge announced the allocation of these FY'04 counterterrorism grants in November 2003.  Information about these grants, distributed through the Department's Office for Domestic Preparedness, is available at www.dhs.gov/grants.

State and Local Homeland Security Grants Awarded   (PDF -- 3 pages, 219 KB)

 ###  

This page was last reviewed/modified on 03/30/04 00:00:00.