Congressman Jack Kingston (R-GA/01) announced today that the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will award over $3 billion in grants to states, urban areas and transportation authorities. DHS has established 14 programs to help bolster national preparedness capabilities and protect critical infrastructure. The funding is designed to enhance the nation’s ability to prevent, protect against, respond to and recover from terrorist attacks, major disasters and other emergencies.
“Emergency preparedness has become a necessity in our society not only because of threats from overseas, but also other unpredictable events such as natural disasters,” said Congressman Kingston. “These funds enable states to implement better security and emergency response programs and infrastructure, particularly in urban areas. Larger cities can now receive guidance on acquiring the capabilities that will be crucial to them in a time of need.”
FY 2009 program allocations include:
Homeland Security Grant Program (HSGP) - Funding is targeted for either states or urban areas and reflects capabilities that are most critical to build in those jurisdictions. Eligible applicants are those state, local and tribal governments within the United States and its territories.
State Homeland Security Program Tribal (SHSP Tribal) – Funding is provided to tribal applicants to build preparedness and response capabilities and to implement homeland security plans. Eligible applicants are those state, local and tribal governments within the United States and its territories.
Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI) – Funding is provided to enhance regional preparedness by strengthening capabilities in 62 high-threat, high-density urban areas across the country. The seven highest risk urban areas within the U.S. will compete for 55 percent of available funds, while the remaining areas will compete for 45 percent of the funds.
State Homeland Security Program Tribal (SHSP Tribal) – Funding is provided to tribal applicants to build preparedness and response capabilities, and to implement homeland security plans. This program provides supplemental funding directly to eligible tribes, pursuant to the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Act of 2007. Eligible applicants include any Indian tribe located in the Continental U.S. that operates a law enforcement agency or medical response agency.
Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP) – Funding is provided to support target-hardening activities at nonprofit organizations at high risk of a terrorist attack. Eligible applicants are those non-profits with a 501 (c) (3) status that are at high risk for terrorist attacks.
Operation Stonegarden (OPSG) – Funding is provided to enhance law enforcement and border security operations. Eligible applicants are local units of government at the county level or Federally recognized tribes.
Transit Security Grant Program (TSGP) – Funding is provided to protect critical transit infrastructure from terrorism. Additional funding programs under this umbrella include the Freight Rail Security Program (FRSGP) and Intercity Passenger Rail (Amtrak). Those who participate in this program cannot participate in PSGP.
Port Security Grant Program (PSGP) – Funding is provided to protect critical port infrastructure from terrorism, enhance maritime domain awareness and risk management capabilities to protect against improvised explosive devices and other non-conventional weapons. Eligible applicants are divided among groups: 7 port areas in Group I, 48 port areas in Group II. Those who participate in this program cannot participate in TSGP.
Buffer Zone Protection Program (BZPP) – Funding is provided to increase preparedness capabilities of jurisdictions responsible for safeguarding critical infrastructure sites and key resource assets such as chemical facilities and nuclear power plants. Specific sites within 51 states and territories have been selected based on their level of risk and criticality.
Intercity Bus Security Grant Program (IBSGP) – Funding is provided to assist operators of fixed-route intercity and charter bus services to support security plans, facility security upgrades and vehicle and driver protection. Eligible applicants are private sponsors providing fixed-route or charter transportation by an over-the-road bus servicing an urban area security initiative jurisdiction.
Trucking Security Program (TSP) – Funding is provided to implement security improvement measures and policies that focus on the purchase, installation or enhancement of equipment and systems related to tractor and trailer tracking systems. Eligible applicants are those with a current security plan subject to Title 49 CFR Transport Tier I Commodities as defined by TSA through the issuance of Highway Security-Sensitive Materials (HSSM) Security Action Items.
Emergency Management Performance Grants (EMPG) – Funding is provided to assist state and local governments in enhancing and sustaining all-hazards emergency management capabilities. The Governor of each State and Territory is required to designate a State Administrative Agency (SAA) to apply for and administer the funds awarded under the EMPG. The SAA is the only entity eligible to apply for EMPG funds.
Interoperable Emergency Communications Grant Program (IECGP) – Funding is provided for planning, training, exercises and equipment to states, territories, local and tribal governments to carry out initiatives identified in Statewide Communication Interoperability Plans and improve them for responding to natural disasters and acts of terrorism. The Governor of each State and Territory is required to designate a State Administrative Agency (SAA) to apply for and administer the funds awarded under the EMPG. The SAA is the only entity eligible to apply for EMPG funds.
Regional Catastrophic Preparedness Grant Program (RCPGP) – Funding is provided to enhance catastrophic incident preparedness in selected high-risk, high-consequence urban area and to support technical assistance funding in FY 2009. There are eleven (11) high-risk, high-consequence urban areas that have been pre-designated as eligible for FY 2009. These eleven (11) urban areas are contained within the ten (10) RCPGP sites. Pursuant to the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2008 (Public Law 110-161), the seven (7) Tier 1 urban areas were pre-designated as eligible for these allocations.
Applicants may be required to meet other certain criteria when applying for DHS grants. TSGP, PSGP, BZPP, IBSGP and TSP applications are due no later than January 13, 2009. Applications for the HSGP programs are due no later than March 20, 2009. Other program application deadlines are listed in the program guidance; for further information on preparedness grant programs and requirements, visit www.dhs.gov and www.fema.gov/grants.
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