January 15, 2007—The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released on January 9 fiscal year 2007 grant guidance and application kits for five grant programs that will total roughly $445 million in funding for state, local, and private industry infrastructure protection initiatives.
These five programs comprise the Infrastructure Protection Program (IPP), which to date have provided more than $1.5 billion in grants to strengthen security at critical facilities ranging from chemical plants to mass transit systems and seaports.
IPP fiscal year 2007 funding totals have increased by $46 million over last year. Specific totals include: Port Security Grant Program: $201.2 million; Transit Security Grant Program: $171.8 million; Buffer Zone Protection Program: $48.5 million; Intercity Bus Security Grant Program: $11.6 million; and Trucking Security Grant Program: $11.6 million.
Eight major urban areas qualify for Tier I, or highest risk status, in fiscal year 2007. They will receive a combined total of $141 million, or roughly 90 percent of total Transit Security Grant funding available for rail and bus systems this year. Grant funding priorities include securing underground and underwater systems, reducing the risks of improvised explosive devices and radiological, chemical and biological weapons, as well as training, exercises, and public awareness campaigns.
The Transit Security Tier I major urban areas are: New York-Connecticut-New Jersey: $61 million; National Capital Region: $18.2 million; Boston: $15.3 million; San Francisco Bay Area: $13.8 million; Chicago : $12.8 million; Philadelphia : $9.7 million; Greater Los Angeles: $7 million; and Atlanta : $3.4 million.
DHS expects to award IPP grants in spring 2007. For more information visit DHS.
