911 ResponsAbility

FY 2010 Tribal Homeland Security Grant Program

Purpose: To provide supplemental funding to directly eligible tribes to help strengthen the nation against risks associated with potential terrorist attacks.  Pursuant to the 9/11 Act, "a directly eligible tribe applying for a grant under section 2004 [SHSP]shall designate an individual to serve as a tribal liaison with [DHS] and other federal, state, local and regional government officials concerning preventing, preparing for, protecting against and responding to acts of terrorism."

Program Awards:  FY2010 THSGP funds will be allocated based on two factors: tribal eligibility per the 9/11 Act (pre-determined), and the effectiveness of the applicant's THSGP Investment Justification (as determined through a peer review process).

Completed applications must be submitted no later than 11:59 PM EST, April 19, 2010. Eligible applicants must apply for funding through the Grants.gov portal, accessible on the Internet at http://www.grants.gov. Applicants in need of Grants.gov support should contact the Grants.gov customer support hotline at (800) 518-4726. If applicants have any questions regarding the application process, they should contact the FEMA Grant Programs Directorate Call Center at (866) 927-5646.

 

Any questions please contact me at amy.freeman@interact911.com

FY 2010 Interoperable Emergency Communications Grant Program (IECGP)

Total Funding Available in FY 2010: $48 Million Purpose: In FY 2010, IECGP provides governance, planning, training and exercise funding to states, territories, and local and tribal governments to carry out initiatives to improve interoperable emergency communications, including communications in collective response to natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made disasters. If a State Administrative Agent (SAA) and Statewide Interoperability Coordinator (SWIC) / SCIP point of contact certify that its state or territory has fulfilled such governance, planning, training and exercise objectives, the Program provides the flexibility to purchase interoperable communications equipment with any remaining IECGP funds.

Eligible Applicants: All 56 states and territories are eligible to apply for IECGP funds.                    Program Awards: In FY 2010, the total amount of funds distributed under IECGP will be $48,000,000. FY 2010 IECGP funds will be allocated based on risk. Each state will receive a minimum allocation under IECGP using the thresholds established in the 9/11 Act. All 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico will receive a minimum of 0.45 percent of the total funds allocated, per the 9/11 Act. Four territories (American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands) will receive a minimum allocation of 0.08 percent of the total funds allocated.

Please contact me if you have any questions.  Amy Freeman: amy.freeman@interact911.com

Total Funding Available in FY 2010: $57.6 Million

Purpose: The Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Grant Program is intended to improve emergency management and preparedness capabilities by supporting flexible, sustainable, secure, and interoperable Emergency Operations Centers (EOCs) with a focus on addressing identified deficiencies and needs. This program provides funding for construction or renovation of a state, local, or tribal governments’ principal EOC. Fully capable emergency operations facilities at the state and local levels are an essential element of a comprehensive national emergency management system and are necessary to ensure continuity of operations and continuity of government in major disasters caused by any hazard.

Eligible Applicants: The governor of each state and territory is required to designate a State Administrative Agency (SAA) to apply for and administer the funds awarded under the EOC Grant Program. The SAA is the only eligible entity able to apply for the available funding on behalf of eligible state, local, and tribal EOCs.

Program Awards: The FY 2010 EOC Grant Program will provide $57,600,000 for construction or renovation of a state, local, or tribal government’s principal EOC. Of this amount, $47,442,500 in non-competitive funding has been appropriated for designated EOC projects throughout the Nation. The remaining $10,157,500 shall be allocated competitively to eligible state, local, or tribal government’s principal EOCs. Please contact me if you have questions or need assistance with this grant.

Amy Freeman: amy.freeman@interact911.com

2010 Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program: Local Solicitations

U.S. Department of Justice Recovery Act 2010 Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program: Local Solicitations

The U.S. Department of Justice has announced funding allocations for local governments under the Recovery Act 2010 Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program: Local Solicitations. “Technology improvements” is one of the eligible program areas. Applications must be submitted by January 21, 2010. Applicants are limited to units of local government listed in the Recovery Act JAG allocation list for JAG funds. Only units of local government that did not receive FY 2009 Recovery Act funding are eligible to apply.

Further information is available at the DOJ website, or contact one of our grant specialists for assistance.

Edward Byrne Memorial Competitive Grant Apps Due April 27

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Office of Justice Programs (OJP), Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) is pleased to announce that it is seeking applications for funding under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (“Recovery Act”). The Recovery Act - Edward Byrne Memorial Competitive Grant Program provides resources to improve the capacity of state and local criminal justice systems. The Recovery Act funding will focus on job creation and retention in support of evidence-based and data-driven programs in the following areas: 1) preventing and reducing violent crime; 2) providing funding for neighborhood-based probation and parole officers, as a compliment to the COPS program; 3) reducing mortgage fraud and crime related to vacant properties; 4) hiring of civilian support personnel in law enforcement (training staff, analysts, dispatchers, etc.); 5) enhancing forensic and crime scene investigations; 6) improving resources and services for victims of crime; 7) supporting problem-solving courts; and 8) national training and technical assistance partnerships. The Recovery Act Edward Byrne Memorial Competitive Program will solicit applications from national, state, regional, or local public and private entities, including for-profit (commercial) and nonprofit organizations, faith-based and community organizations, institutions of higher educa tion, and tribal jurisdictions. Applications for funding should be submitted through the on-line OJP Grants Management System (GMS). For additional information on the Office of Justice Programs’ Recovery Act Grant Programs, please visit the OJP website at http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/recovery/.

Contact InterAct's grant specialists at grants@interact911.com for assistance preparing your application. 

Byrne/JAG Grant Procedures Announced

Last week the Department of Justice announced procedures on how to obtain funds allocated in Edward Byrne Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program.  In an announcement, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder announced that $2 billion would be made available in funds in order to help local and state law enforcement fight crime and keep streets safe.

This announcement along with an estimated $8.8 billion in potential additional funds that will be made available to law enforcement agencies under the “State Fiscal Stabilization Fund” (SFSF) for public safety and other government services, means that that the clock is now ticking for agencies wanting to use these resources to upgrade and enhance their existing public safety technology. According to the Department of Justice, the funds for state and local law enforcement assistance programs will be available for allocation until September 2010.  That means that states and local agencies should begin vocalizing, identifying and writing proposals for funding of its most crucial public safety requirements and needs.

PoliceOne.com has two great summaries of the procedures for the Byrne Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program as well as a review and allocation per state of the monies available to law enforcement agencies via the State Fiscal Stabilization Fund (SFSF).  Be sure to check them out before starting any proposals!

Contact InterAct's grant specialists at grants@interact911.com for assistance.

Billions of Stimulus Dollars Available for Public Safety Technology

Before the President signed the huge economic stimulus bill into law, I posted a blog entry stating that public safety organizations could benefit if the bill passed, opining that: “It has been such a relief to read recent articles and reports indicating that at least someone higher up is listening and understands that you can't continue to starve out infrastructure and think it will just keep working.”

Since that earlier post back on February 9, the economic stimulus bill has become law, making available hundreds of billions of dollars for local, state and federal government projects. There is even a new website that tracks where the close to $800 billion dollars is going. Even though the numbers in the final bill are different than the ones from the previous post – which was based on the House numbers – public safety organizations still stand to benefit tremendously from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Under the final version of the bill, between $4 billion and $13.8 billion is set aside for local public safety spending. Exact budget figures depend on how states will spend the 19.2 percent of the State Fiscal Stabilization Fund allocated for “public safety and other government services.” Regardless, there are still billions of dollars that can be used to help upgrade public safety infrastructure. Two grant programs that have seen significant cuts in the past several years will also be getting a boost. Byrne/JAG grants will receive $2 billion more in funding and COPS will receive an additional $1 billion. While both of these figures are less than what was included in the House bill, it still marks a significant increase to both of these grant programs’ budgets, and to money that can be used for public safety enhancements..

According to a review of state and local “wish lists” of how to spend stimulus money, IT enhancements, radio and 9-1-1 systems, Computer Aided Dispatch, records management and automated notification systems are all mentioned as worthy projects that could help improve public safety systems. Even though there are billions of dollars that are made available, competition to receive grant funds is expected to be fierce.

Agencies looking to use stimulus money to improve their IT systems should start drawing up grant proposals now. InterAct can help. Please contact our specialists at grants@interact911.com.

Public Safety Could Benefit from Economic Stimulus Plan

It has been such a relief to read recent articles and reports indicating that at least someone higher up is listening and understands that you can't continue to starve out infrastructure and think it will just keep working.

The “American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009” as approved by the House has allocated $34-billion that could be used for public safety spending. Public safety would compete with “other” government services for up to $30-billion that could come from the “State Fiscal Stabilization Fund”, but could get a significant portion based on a review of “wish lists” published by state and local governments that included requests for funding 9-1-1 systems, computer aided dispatch, records management, and automated notification systems.

An additional $4 billion is dedicated solely to public safety and breathe new life into two grant programs, the Edward Byrne Memorial State and Local Law Enforcement Assistance Grant Program (commonly referred to as “Byrne Grants” or “JAG” – Justice Assistance Grants Program) and the Community Oriented Policing Services Grant Program (commonly referred to as “COPS Grants”).

Under the House plan, the Byrne/JAG appropriation would increase to $3-billion. The guidelines could change, but historically, Byrne/JAG Grants included funding technology improvement programs. The primary purpose of COPS, which will receive $1 billion, has been to place more police resources in local communities, but funds have also been used for non-hiring purposes such as Crime analysis tools, particularly those related to GIS, computer aided dispatch (CAD), and 9-1-1 systems.

Now is the time for agencies to draw up their grant proposals, even though the guidelines are not completely finalized. InterAct is here to help. Please contact our grant specialists at grants@interact911.com.

Federal Grant Update: DHS

In November, DHS announced 2009 funding levels and application guidance for the major DHS grant programs that help fund state and local programs, including the two programs under which state and local law enforcement agencies have obtained funding for mobile data systems:

• State Homeland Security Program (SHSP) - $861.3 million to strengthen and build state, territorial and local preparedness capabilities
• Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI) - $798.6 million to enhance regional preparedness in 62 high-threat, high-density urban areas across the country.
• States must dedicate at least 25 percent of both SHSP and UASI funds to law enforcement-related activities. Applications for the SHSP and UASI programs are due March 20, 2009.  Click here for individual state allocations and more information on these programs.

InterAct's grant specialists can help you prepare your applications. Contact us today at grants@interact911.com

ENHANCE 911 Act Grants

The House and Senate just approved funding for ENHANCE 911 Act grants. Contact your InterAct account manager to discuss how we can help you apply for funding or contact Steven Daukas at 336-201-5078 or steven.daukas@interact911.com.