Grant Guidance Released for Homeland Security Grant Programs

Fairfax, VA, Jan. 5, 2007… The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced today the release of its fiscal year 2007 grant guidance and application kits for its Homeland Security Grant Program. The program provides $1.7 billion in funding for state and local counterterrorism efforts. The grant guidance includes information about which cities are eligible for funding from the Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI). The guidance can be found at www.dhs.gov/xlibrary/assets/grants-2007-program-overview-010507.pdf.

The Homeland Security Grant Program is composed of five major programs:

• State Homeland Security Program: $509.3 million
• Law Enforcement Terrorism Prevention Program: $363.8 million
• Urban Areas Security Initiative: $746.9 million
• Metropolitan Medical Response System: $32.0 million
• Citizen Corps Program: $14.6 million

This year, DHS intends to use the grant programs to encourage a regional approach to strengthening homeland security. Grant-funding priorities will include reducing the risks of possible attack by improvised explosive devices and biological, chemical and radiological weapons. DHS will also emphasize the use of the program funding for interoperable communications, information sharing and citizen preparedness. In addition, the six highest-risk UASI cities will be permitted to apply up to 25 percent of their award to the use of state and local personnel dedicated exclusively to counterterrorism field operations.

In reviewing the grant applications, DHS will form peer-review panels composed of more than 100 law enforcement, emergency management and homeland security experts from federal, state and urban areas. Following the review process, DHS plans to announce grant allocations by summer 2007.

Chief Jim Harmes, IAFC president, urged IAFC members to read this grant guidance and consult with their state homeland security advisors or emergency managers on their grant applications. “It is important that we work with our state governments to ensure that Homeland Security Grant applications reflect the needs of our individual departments,” he said.

-end-