The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the release of fiscal year 2016 Notices of Funding Opportunity for 10 DHS preparedness grant programs totaling more than $1.6 billion.
The grant programs provide funding to state, local, tribal and territorial governments, as well as transportation authorities, nonprofit organizations and the private sector, to improve the nation’s readiness in preventing, protecting against, responding to, recovering from and mitigating terrorist attacks, major disasters and other emergencies.
Some of the funding opportunities will be awarded in the following areas:
The Emergency Management Performance Grant provides more than $350 million to assist state, local, tribal and territorial governments in enhancing and sustaining all-hazards emergency management capabilities.
The Homeland Security Grant Program provides more than $1 billion for states and urban areas to prevent, protect against, mitigate, respond to and recover from acts of terrorism and other threats.
The State Homeland Security Program provides $402 million to support the implementation of risk-driven, capabilities-based State Homeland Security Strategies (SHSP) to address capability targets. States are required to dedicate 25 percent of SHSP funds to law enforcement terrorism prevention activities.
The Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) provides $580 million to enhance regional preparedness and capabilities in 29 high-threat, high-density areas. States and urban areas are required to dedicate 25 percent of UASI funds to law enforcement terrorism prevention activities.
The Operation Stonegarden provides $55 million to enhance cooperation and coordination among local, tribal, territorial, state and federal law enforcement agencies to jointly enhance security along the United States’ land and water borders.
The Tribal Homeland Security Grant Program provides $10 million to eligible tribal nations to implement preparedness initiatives to help strengthen the nation against risks associated with potential terrorist attacks and other hazards.
Dedicated funding is provided for law enforcement and terrorism prevention throughout the country to prepare for, prevent and respond to pre-operational activity and other crimes that are precursors or indicators of terrorist activity.
Grant recipients are encouraged to use grant funding to invest in training and exercises, updates to current planning and procedures, and lifecycle replacement of equipment.
New capabilities built using homeland security grant funding must be deployable if needed to support regional and national efforts. All capabilities being built or sustained must have a clear linkage to the core capabilities in the National Preparedness Goal.
Further information, including a full list of the grant opportunities is available at http://www.dhs.gov/ and http://www.fema.gov/grants.