Homeland Security Announces First Responders Grants Available -- California Capitol Hill Bulletin -- Volume 10, Bulletin 6 -- March 13, 2003

The week of March 10, the Department of Homeland Security announced that $600 million in federal funding was being made available to the states to help state and local public safety personnel respond to terrorist activities. The state of California has been allocated $45 million of the funding - $31.6 million for equipment, $7.9 million for exercises, $2.3 million for training, and $3.16 million for planning.

The money will be distributed through grants. Applications for the grant awards must be filed by April 22. Program guidelines and applications are available from the DHS website at: http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/fundopps.htm . Once received, the states will be notified within seven days if a grant is made, and funds will be available about three weeks later.

The Department also announced this week, the 2003 Assistance to Firefighters Grant application period. About $750 million was made available for these first responders under the recently enacted FY03 Omnibus bill. Grant Applications must be received by April 11 for this program. Further information on these grants can be obtained from www.usfa.fema.gov/grants .

The Department's website, where further information is available is: http://www.dhs.gov

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