Earlier this year, we highlighted some of the upcoming 2024 grant programs that could help fund much-needed mission-critical communications equipment and services. Some of those programs have been formally announced and have allocated dollars, so it is worthwhile to provide updated information on these opportunities.
In the United States, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced more than $1.8 billion in funding for eight fiscal year (FY) 2024 preparedness grant programs. These grant programs provide critical funding to help state, local, tribal, and territorial officials prepare for, prevent, protect against, and respond to acts of terrorism and disasters.
“This funding is essential for frontline personnel, including emergency managers, firefighters, emergency medical services, law enforcement and other first responders,” says DHS Secretary Alejandro N. Mayorkas. “The grants will play a critical role in ensuring local communities across the country have the resources and capabilities to prevent threats to the homeland.”
The law requires that at least 25% of the combined funds for the State Homeland Security Program (SHSP) and the Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) be dedicated to Law Enforcement Terrorism Prevention Activities (LETPA), and DHS is maintaining the LETPA minimum requirement of 35%.
The following grants are non-competitive and awarded to recipients based on several factors:
Homeland Security Grant Program (HSGP): State Homeland Security Program—provides $373.5 million to support the implementation of risk-driven, capabilities-based state homeland security strategies to address capability targets. Awards are based on statutory minimums and relative risk as determined by DHS/FEMA’s risk methodology.
HSGP: Urban Area Security Initiative—provides $553.5 million to enhance regional preparedness and capabilities in 41 high-threat, high-density areas. Awards are based on relative risk as determined by DHS/FEMA’s risk methodology.
Intercity Passenger Rail—provides $9 million to Amtrak to protect critical surface transportation infrastructure and the traveling public from acts of terrorism and increase the resilience of the Amtrak rail system. Award made per congressional direction.
Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG) Program –provides $319.55 million to assist state, local, tribal, and territorial emergency management agencies in obtaining the resources required to support the National Preparedness Goal’s associated mission areas and core capabilities to build a culture of preparedness. Awards are based on statutory minimums and population.
The following grants are competitive, and exact awards will be announced later this year:
HSGP: Operation Stonegarden—provides $81 million to enhance cooperation and coordination among state, local, tribal, territorial, and federal law enforcement agencies to jointly enhance security along the United States land and water borders.
Tribal Homeland Security Grant Program —provides $13.5 million to eligible tribal nations to implement preparedness initiatives to help strengthen the nation against risk associated with potential terrorist attacks and other hazards. A series of webinars on this program is available here.
Nonprofit Security Grant Program—provides $274.5 million to support target hardening and other physical security enhancements for nonprofit organizations that are at high risk of a terrorist attack. This year, $137.25 million is provided to nonprofits in UASI-designated urban areas, and $137.25 million is provided to nonprofits outside of UASI-designated urban areas located in any state or territory.
Port Security Grant Program—provides $90 million to help protect critical port infrastructure from terrorism, enhance maritime domain awareness, improve port-wide maritime security risk management, and maintain or re-establish maritime security mitigation protocols that support port recovery and resiliency capabilities.
Transit Security Grant Program —provides $83.7 million to owners and operators of public transit systems to protect critical surface transportation and the traveling public from acts of terrorism and to increase the resilience of transit infrastructure. A series of webinars on this program is available here.
Intercity Bus Security Grant Program —provides $1.8 million to owners and operators of intercity bus systems to protect surface transportation infrastructure and the traveling public from acts of terrorism and to increase the resilience of transit infrastructure. A series of webinars on this program is available here.
In addition to these grants, a notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) and other information on the Emergency Operations Center $103 million grant program is here. More information on all FEMA preparedness grants is here.
In addition to the United States, a province in Canada recently announced emergency preparedness grants. The Ontario government is investing $5 million in communities across the province to help them prepare for and respond to emergencies. Funding is being delivered through the Community Emergency Preparedness Grant to help communities and organizations purchase critical supplies, equipment and deliver training and services.
Tait Communications and our global network of channel partners can help direct you to the best funding resources. Your local dealer can also help package and explain the right solution to address your requirements. Please reach out if we can help you with communications equipment purchasing this year.
Read more on the initial proposal in: Tait Talks | New Year, New Funding Resources
