Governor David A. Paterson today announced that the federal Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has awarded New York State more than $251 million through the fiscal year 2008 Homeland Security Grant Program (HSGP), including $144 million for the New York City Urban Area. The funding will go to first responders and communities across the State to better prepare for and respond to terrorist attacks, natural disasters and other emergencies. New York State received an increase of more than $40 million in federal funds over the 2007 fiscal year.
At the direction of Governor Paterson, the New York State Office of Homeland Security successfully worked with DHS to get Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI) grants to two Upstate New York cities which had never before received them. Syracuse will receive $1.6 million and Rochester will receive $1.46 million. More than $1.75 million in UASI funding will also be directed towards the Capital Region; the first time in several years this region has received such funding.
“It is gratifying to see the federal Department of Homeland Security direct funding to our Upstate cities and acknowledge their security needs, in addition to the obvious needs of New York City. These federal funds are vital to enhancing the preparedness and response capabilities of our valiant first responders at the State and local levels,” said Governor Paterson. “I want to thank Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff and our congressional delegation for supporting our efforts and recognizing how important New York is. By directing this funding here, they have helped to ensure that our state has the training, equipment, and resources we need to enhance our emergency preparedness.”
The grants total $251,978,877 and come from the following DHS programs: Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI), $154,319,000; State Homeland Security Program (SHSP), $76,500,000; Citizen Corps, $665,317; Metropolitan Medical Response Systems (MMRS), $1,606,105; Regional Catastrophic Preparedness Grant Program (RCPGP), $9,921,750; Operation Stonegarden Grant Program, $4,570,000; and the Not-for-Profit Security Grant Program (NSGP), $4,160,205; and the State Homeland Security Program (SHSP) Tribal Supplement, $236,500.
The HSGP program overall received an increase of 19.2 percent over the 2007 fiscal year. The SHSP program received an increase of 15 percent, New York City’s UASI funding was increased by 7.53 percent, and the MMRS funding received a 24.43 percent increase in funds from the Department of Homeland Security. The RCPGP and Operation Stonegarden are two new grants introduced by DHS this year to target regional catastrophic preparedness and border security, respectively. Also, for the first time DHS awarded specific funding to Tribal Nations.
Currently, DHS provides funding based on a formula that takes into account factors including population density, amount and vulnerability of critical infrastructure and credible threat information. As part of New York’s Homeland Security strategy, the State works with cities and counties to form regions that will work together through mutual aid agreements, interoperable communications, the statewide intelligence center and community and citizen participation.
(YWN Desk – NYC)
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One Response
what no yeshivas getting $$$$
borei me’orei ha”govt grant”
dont worry — they wont lower tuition either way. they’ll just put it in their pockets! someone has to pay the mortgage brokers in lakewood!