WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced today the awarding of over $113 million in grant money under two programs that strengthen the coordinated training efforts of homeland security preparedness.

• Under the fiscal year (FY) 2007 Homeland Security National Training Program (HSNTP), $84 million in cooperative and inter-agency agreements are being awarded to applicants to design, develop and deliver training content and support for federal, state, local, and tribal jurisdictions in accordance with DHS doctrine guidance and approved homeland security strategies. Training will be designed for and delivered to appropriate state and local personnel in emergency management, public health, clinical care, public works, public safety, as well as the private sector and nonprofit, faith-based, and community organizations. Today’s announcement is in addition to over $98 million in HSNTP funds previously awarded in FY 2007.
• As part of the FY 2007 Competitive Training Grant Program (CTGP), $29.1 million is being awarded to state, local, tribal, and territorial governments, national associations, higher education institutions, non-profit organizations, and the private sector.  This program awards funds to competitively selected applicants to develop and deliver innovative training programs addressing high priority national homeland security training needs.

“Investing in education and training for homeland security course-work around the country is investing in a more secure future for America,” said Department of Homeland Secretary Michael Chertoff.  “The programs funded by these grants are vital in preparing the nation for dealing with all types of disasters.”

The HSNTP provides funding through cooperative and inter-agency agreements to the National Domestic Preparedness Consortium, Rural Domestic Preparedness Consortium, and Continuing and Emerging training providers for the purposes of the development and delivery of all-hazards training for federal, state, local, and tribal emergency responders.  Since the beginning of the HSNTP in FY 2005, more than $521.5 million has been funded.

The CTGP provides funds to support training initiatives that are national in scope and further the DHS mission of preparing the nation to prevent, protect against, respond to, and recover from incidents of terrorism and catastrophic events.  In FY07, the emphasis is on the development and delivery of courses in one of the five following focus areas:

• Public communications
• Executive leadership of homeland security programs
• Intergovernmental coordination and planning
• Managing homeland security risks
• Legal issues in preparation, response, and recovery

The CTGP awards funds to competitively selected applicants to develop and deliver innovative training programs addressing high priority national homeland security training needs.

The FY 2007 CTGP represents the fourth consecutive year for this important national training initiative. The CTGP funding has enabled the development of 40 training programs targeting areas such as community outreach; vulnerable populations and special needs; intelligence, information sharing, and fusion center; cyber-terrorism; agriculture; regional collaboration and continuity of operations planning; transit, port and infrastructure protection; rural communities; law enforcement; and mass casualty.

Since its inception in FY 2004, and including FY 2007 awards, the department has awarded approximately $121 million through the CTGP awards.

For further information on HSNTP, CTGP and other DHS programs, see the Web site at www.dhs.gov.

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DHS press release

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