DHS Releases Guidance for Grant Application Programs
On Feb. 1, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the release of application guidance for 14 federal grant programs to strengthen prevention, protection, response and recovery capabilities at all levels of government.
Officials said the department uses the application guidance to set strategic priorities that support President Bush's National Homeland Security Strategy and align with the Department's National Preparedness Guidelines and the recently released National Response Framework. Fiscal Year (FY) 2008 grant programs provide $376.3 million more than last year to enhance the nation’s ability to prevent, protect against, respond to and recover from terrorist attacks, major disasters and other emergencies.
"This year, we're asking applicants to prioritize preparedness planning and counter IED threats," said Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff. "We are focusing 25 percent of key program dollars on these priorities, and we're giving communities even greater clarity on how we seek to minimize our collective risk."
Since its inception, DHS has administered $22.7 billion in federal grants to states, territories,urban areas, and transportation authorities. Changes to the FY 2008 grants program include significant improvements based on extensive outreach to state and local preparedness partners. Guidance on all 14 grant programs is being released simultaneously to allow applicants more time to plan and apply for funding, as well as more rapidly begin implementing security measures. Additionally, as part of the recommendations of the Post Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act, the department’s regional offices will have an enhanced role in administering grant programs. IPP applications are due to the department no later than March 17, 2008, and HSGP applications are due May 1, 2008.
The grant program allocations for 2008 are:
- Homeland Security Grant Program -- $1.69 billion.
- Infrastructure Protection Program -- $852.4 million.
- Emergency Management Performance Grants -- $291.4 million to support state and local emergency management programs
- Operation Stonegarden Grants -- $60 million to land border states to enhance law enforcement border security operations.
- Regional Catastrophic Preparedness Grant Program -- $60 million to bolster catastrophic incident preparedness in designated UASI jurisdictions.
- REAL ID Systems Integration and Data Verification Grant Program -- $48.5 million to states for cooperative efforts to enhance the integrity and reliability of driver’s licenses.
- Urban Areas Security Initiative Nonprofit Security Grant Program -- $15 million to support target-hardening activities by nonprofit organizations at high risk of an international terrorist attack
The 2008 risk assessment methodology has been revised to reflect input from the 9/11 Commission Act, including the use of Metropolitan Statistical Areas. As the department invests in all-hazards capabilities across the nation, this updated grant process will further manage risk and close capability gaps.
Further information, including individual fact sheets on each program, is available at www.dhs.gov.