WASHINGTON -The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released fiscal year 2007 grant guidance and application kits for five grant programs that will total roughly $1.7 billion in funding for state and local counterterrorism efforts.
With the fiscal year 2007 funding, the department will have invested nearly $20 billion in local planning, organization, equipment, training, and exercises.
“This year’s grant process will be more user-friendly. There will be increased interaction with all applicants before we award the grants to ensure effective investment.” said Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff. “The funds will be distributed to reduce risk across the United States, not just in a handful of places. But, let me be clear that the communities facing the highest risk will receive the majority of the funds.”
The five programs that comprise the Homeland Security Grant Program (HSGP) encourage a regional approach to strengthening homeland security. Grant funding priorities include reducing risks of improvised explosive devices and radiological, chemical and biological weapons. They emphasize interoperable communications, information sharing and citizen preparedness. HSGP fiscal year 2007 funding totals are:
- State Homeland Security Program (SHSP)- $509.3 million
- Law Enforcement Terrorism Prevention Program (LETPP)- $363.8 million
- Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI)- $746.9 million
- Metropolitan Medical Response System (MMRS)- $32.0 million
- Citizen Corps Program (CCP)- $14.6 million
The department has refined its grants programs over the past year to increase transparency, provide a more streamlined and interactive application process, and tier certain core programs according to risk. In addition, the six highest risk UASI cities will be permitted for the first time to apply up to 25 percent of their award toward current state and local personnel dedicated exclusively to counterterrorism field operations.
HSGP risk-methodology considers a variety of factors, including intelligence assessments, population size and density, economic impacts, and proximity to nationally critical infrastructure such as international borders. More than 100 law enforcement, emergency management and homeland security experts from federal, state and urban areas will form peer review panels to assess this year’s grant applications. Upon completion of the review process, DHS expects to announce grant allocations by summer 2007.
DHS press release www.dhs.gov.
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Homeland Security Grant Program Overview
A core mission of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is to enhance the ability of State, local and tribal governments to prepare, prevent, and respond to terrorist attacks and other disasters. The Homeland Security Grant Program (HSGP) is a primary funding mechanism for building and sustaining national preparedness capabilities.
HSGP is comprised of five separate grant programs:
- Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI)
- State Homeland Security Program (SHSP)
- Law Enforcement Terrorism Prevention Program (LETPP)
- Metropolitan Medical Response System (MMRS)
- Citizen Corps Program (CCP)
Together, these grants fund a range of preparedness activities, including planning, organization, equipment purchase, training, exercises, and management and administration costs.
HSGP programs support objectives outlined in the National Preparedness Goal and related national preparedness doctrine, such as the National Incident Management System, National Response Plan, and the National Infrastructure Protection Plan.
The FY07 HSGP contains significant improvements based upon extensive outreach to HSGP stakeholders. In addition, the risk assessments that form the basis for eligibility under the HSGP have been simplified, refined, and considerably strengthened.
Funding priorities for this year further improve our primary commitment to risk-based funding. We also continue to deepen our commitment to assisting with regional planning and security coordination. In response to requests from our Urban Areas Security Initiative partners, this year’s program includes a pilot test that gives the highest risk metropolitan areas additional flexibility in using their grant funds under that program to fund dedicated counterterrorism staff.
All potential applicants will have more time this year to complete the application process. DHS has also created multiple opportunities for applicants to have consultations with the Department’s grant program and subject matter experts prior to final review of applications.
This year’s HSGP grants strengthen DHS’s ability to protect security- and business-sensitive information that will be provided with grant applications from inappropriate public release. To increase program flexibility, the period for performance under HSGP grants has been extended to 36 months.
HSGP Funding Distribution – FY 2007
- UASI: $746,900,000
- SHSP: $509,250,000
- LETPP: $363,750,000
- MMRS: $32,010,000
- CCP: $14,550,000
- Total: $1,666,460,000
Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI) Program
Total Funding Available in FY 2007: $746,900,000
Purpose: The UASI Program focuses on the unique planning, equipment, training and exercise needs of high-threat, high-density urban areas. It assists them in building sustainable capacity to prevent, protect, respond, and recover from acts of terrorism.
Eligible Applicants: Forty-five urban areas are eligible for funding under the FY07 program. Six of these areas are designated as highest risk UASI jurisdictions and will be eligible to compete for $410 million or 55 percent of available funds. The remaining UASI areas will compete for the remaining $336 million or 45 percent of available funds. Funds will be allocated based on analysis of risk and the effectiveness of proposed investments by the applicants. Risk for UASI jurisdictions is evaluated using a consistent methodology of threat, vulnerability, and consequences.
State Homeland Security Program (SHSP)
Total Funding Available in FY 2007: $509,250,000
Purpose: This core assistance program provides funds to build capabilities at the State and local levels through planning, equipment, training, and exercise activities. SHSP also supports the implementation of State homeland security strategies and key elements of the national preparedness architecture, including the National Preparedness Goal, the National Incident Management System and the National Response Plan.
Eligible Applicants: Eligible entities for SHSP are all 50 States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, and the Virgin Islands. Available funds are distributed to each State based upon the risk and effectiveness scores associated with each application and also on a minimum allocation consistent with the statutory formula set by the USA Patriot Act. Each State, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico will receive 0.75 percent of total available SHSP funds as a minimum allocation and the four territories will each receive 0.25 percent. Effectiveness scores are determined through a peer review of proposed State investments.
Law Enforcement Terrorism Prevention Program (LETPP)
Total Funding Available in FY 2007: $363,750,000
Purpose: LETPP provides resources to law enforcement and public safety communities to support critical terrorism prevention activities, including establishing and enhancing fusion centers and collaborating with non-law enforcement partners, other government agencies and the private sector.
Eligible Applicants: LETPP eligibility mirrors that of the SHSP program: all 50 States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, and the Virgin Islands. Available funds are distributed to each State based upon the risk and 2effectiveness scores associated with each application and also on a minimum a
llocation consistent with the statutory formula set by the USA Patriot Act.
Metropolitan Medical Response System (MMRS) Program
Total Funding Available in FY 2007: $32,010,000
Purpose: MMRS funds support local preparedness efforts to respond to all-hazards mass casualty incidents, including CBRNE terrorism, epidemic disease outbreaks, natural disasters and large-scale hazardous materials incidents.
Eligible Applicants: As in past years, 124 cities are eligible for MMRS funding. See page 8, below, for a complete list of all eligible jurisdictions. Each of the 124 MMRS jurisdictions will receive $258,145 to establish and sustain local capabilities.
Citizen Corps Program (CCP)
Total Funding Available in FY 2007: $14,550,000
Purpose: The Citizen Corps mission is to bring community and government leaders together to coordinate community involvement in emergency preparedness, planning, mitigation, response and recovery.
Eligible Applicants: Like SHSP and LETPP, the Citizen Corps Program is open to 56 States and Territories using the USA Patriot Act formula. All 50 States, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico will receive a minimum of 0.75 percent of the total available CCP grant funding. Four terror ties (American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, and the Virgin Islands) will receive a minimum amount of 0.25 percent of the total available grant funding. The balance of the CCP funds is distributed on a population-share basis.
FY 2007 URBAN AREAS SECURITY INITIATIVE PROGRAMELIGIBLE CANDIDATE AREAS
FY 2007 Tier I: 6 Urban Areas, $410,795,000 allocated (55% of total):
-Bay Area (CA)
-Chicago Area (IL)
-Houston Area (TX)
-Los Angeles/Long Beach Area (CA)
-National Capital Region (DC)
-New York City/Northern New Jersey Area
- New York City Area
- Jersey City/Newark Area
FY 2007 Tier II: 39 Urban Areas, $336,105,000 allocated (45% of total):
Anaheim/Santa Ana Area (CA)
Atlanta Area (GA)
Baltimore Area (MD)
Boston Area (MA)
Buffalo Area (NY)
Charlotte Area (NC)
Cincinnati Area (OH)
Cleveland Area (OH)
Columbus Area (OH)
Dallas/Fort Worth/Arlington Area (TX)
Denver Area (CO)
Detroit Area (MI)
El Paso Area (TX)
Fort Lauderdale Area (FL)
Honolulu Area (HI)
Indianapolis Area (IN)
Jacksonville Area (FL)
Kansas City Area (MO)
Las Vegas Area (NV)
Memphis Area (TN)
Miami Area (FL)
Milwaukee Area (WI)
New Orleans Area (LA)
Norfolk Area (VA)
Oklahoma City Area (OK)
Orlando Area (FL)
Philadelphia Area (PA)
Phoenix Area (AZ)
Pittsburgh Area (PA)
Portland Area (OR)
Providence Area (RI)
Sacramento Area (CA)
San Antonio Area (TX)
San Diego Area (CA)
Seattle Area (WA)
St. Louis Area (MO)
Tampa Area (FL)
Tucson Area (AZ)
Twin Cities Area (MN)
