WASHINGTON - April 3, 2015 - U.S. Representative Kathleen Rice today announced that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has released funding opportunities and allocations for its Fiscal Year 2015 Preparedness Grant Program, which supports state and local efforts to prevent, respond to and recover from acts of terrorism and other catastrophic events. New York is eligible to receive $76,949,000 through the State Homeland Security Program (SHSP), the most allocated to any state and slightly more than the $76,742,000 that was awarded to New York in FY 2014. Through the Urban Areas Security Initiative, which addresses the unique risks and security needs of high-threat, high-density urban areas, the greater New York City area is eligible to receive $180,926,000, the most allocated to any urban area and $2 million more than was allocated to the New York City area in FY 2014.
The state is also eligible to apply for funding through the Operation Stonegarden Program, which funds joint border security efforts, and through the Urban Areas Security Initiative Nonprofit Security Grant Program, which supports security enhancements to nonprofit organizations that are at high risk of a terrorist attack and are located in designated urban areas such as the New York City area. Eligible state and local agencies can also apply for funding through the Port Security Grant Program, which awarded more than $1.4 million to Nassau County in FY 2014, as well as the Transit Security Grant Program, the Intercity Bus Security Grant Program and the Tribal Homeland Security Grant Program. See below for further information about these funding opportunities and eligibility requirements.
“State and local governments, law enforcement agencies and emergency responders rely on this funding to support their efforts to prevent, prepare for and respond to acts of terrorism,” said Rep. Kathleen Rice. “The unnecessary fight over funding DHS earlier this year jeopardized those efforts by delaying new grants for 2015, but DHS has acted quickly to initiate the application process and I’m glad that New York will get the resources we need to meet our unique security demands. I encourage all eligible organizations to apply for grant funding, and my office will help with the application process in any way we can.”
-State Homeland Security Program (SHSP) – $76,949,000 allocated to New York in FY 2015. SHSP funds support the implementation of state homeland security strategies to address planning, organizational, equipment, training and exercise needs to prevent, respond to and recover from acts of terrorism and other catastrophic events. The State Administrative Agency (SAA) is the only entity eligible to apply for SHSP funds.
-Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI) – $180,926,000 allocated to the New York City area in FY 2015. UASI funds help address the unique security needs of high-threat, high-density urban areas and assist them in enhancing their capacity to prevent, respond to and recover from acts of terrorism. The SAA is the only entity eligible to apply for UASI funds.
-Operation Stonegarden (OPSG) – $55,000,000 total funding available in FY 2015. OPSG funds support enhanced coordination and cooperation among local, tribal, state and federal law enforcement agencies in a joint mission to secure the United States’ borders. The SAA is the only entity eligible to apply to FEMA for OPSG funds. Eligible local government agencies can apply for OPSG funds through their SAA.
Urban Areas Security Initiative Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP) – $13,000,000 total funding available in FY 2015 to support security enhancements at nonprofit organizations that are at high risk of a terrorist attack and are located within a UASI-designated eligible urban area, such as the New York City Area. The SAA is the only entity eligible to apply to FEMA for NSGP funds on behalf of eligible nonprofit organizations
Port Security Grant Program (PSGP) – $100,000,000 total funding available in FY 2015 to support maritime transportation infrastructure security activities. PSGP is a risk based grant program, with funding divided among port authorities, facility operators, and state and local government agencies that are required to provide port security services. Nassau County was awarded $1,425,095 in PSGP funding in FY 2014.
Transit Security Grant Program (TSGP) – $87,000,000 total funding available in FY 2015 to support transportation infrastructure security activities. Eligible applicants include the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA), the New York City Department of Transportation, and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.
Intercity Bus Security Grant Program – $3,000,000 total funding available in FY 2015 to help create sustainable programs to protect intercity bus systems and the traveling public from terrorism. Eligible applicants include owners and operators of fixed route intercity and charter buses that serve UASI jurisdictions, such as the New York City area.
Tribal Homeland Security Grant Program – $10,000,000 total funding available in FY 2015 to help tribes strengthen their capacity to prevent, respond to and recover from potential terrorist attacks and other hazards.