REAL ID Grant Funding

FY 2009 Grants

The FY 2009 Driver's License Security Grant Program is designed to prevent terrorism, reduce fraud, and improve the reliability and accuracy of identification documents issued by state governments.

Funds in the amount of $48,575,000 have been allocated under the program, for grants pursuant to section 204(a) of the REAL ID Act of 2005. Funding was provided by the Consolidated Security, Disaster Assistance, and Continuing Appropriations Act of 2009 (Public Law 110-329).

Key Milestones for 2009 grants:

• Dec. 16, 2008: Grant Guidance and Application Kit released
• Feb. 27, 2009: Applications due to DHS-FEMA

In FY 2009, Driver's License Security Grant Program allocations will be made on a formula basis, based on the number of licensed drivers within each eligible state and territory.

REAL ID Demonstration Grant Program and the Driver's License Security Grant Program

This grant differs from the FY 2008 REAL ID Demonstration Grant Program in two respects:

• FY 2008 REAL ID Demonstration Grant Program gives priority to multi-state projects to improve both state and inter-state data verification capabilities. The FY 2009 Program will accept state proposals that improve state capabilities consistent with REAL ID rule requirements.
• The FY 2009 Program will contain pre-determined target allocation funds to all 56 states and territories; FY 2008 Program funds were competitively awarded.

FY 2006-2008 Grants

For FY 2006-2008, the Department awarded or made available $361.375 million in grants for REAL ID implementation. These grants include:

• REAL ID Pilot Project. The Commonwealth of Kentucky received $3 million in Fiscal Year (FY) 2006 to fund a REAL ID Pilot Project. The pilot is being implemented to test and validate birth record verification processes and to develop a common set of standards that states can use during the driver's license issuance process.
• REAL ID Vital Events Verification State Project Grant. The Department awarded Kentucky an additional $4 million to help state Departments of Motor Vehicles (DMVs) connect to state Vital Record Offices (VROs). The Commonwealth of Kentucky will enable state VROs access to the Electronic Verification of Vital Events hub (a Web-based portal) to verify birth and death record information of individuals applying for REAL ID driver's licenses and identification cards. Kentucky will also use these funds to expand the scope of its REAL ID Pilot Project by comparing foreign-born United States citizens applying for a REAL ID driver's license with the U.S. Department of State's foreign-born citizen birth record information.
• FY 2008 REAL ID Demonstration Grant Program. The Department awarded $79.875 million to assist states and territories with REALI ID implementation. The FY 2008 REAL ID Demonstration Grant Program is designed to standardize how driver's licenses are issued and to help protect citizens against fraud and identity theft. Grant funds will help states enhance the integrity of driver's licenses (DLs) and identification documents (ID), improve state issuance capabilities, as well as system security.
• State Homeland Security Grant Program (SHSGP). $274.5 million in State Homeland Security Grant Program (SHSGP) funds (20% of the total SHSGP minus M&A funds) were made available to states for REAL ID for FY 2007-2008.

For more information

Please visit grants.gov for more information on REAL ID grants.