DHS Secretary Napolitano today (5/13) announced the FY 2010 Preparedness Grants for nine federal programs, including critical infrastructure-related grants.

The total funding going to state, local and tribal governments, and the private sector to help them strengthen preparedness for acts of terrorism, major disasters and other emergencies is about $790 million.

The program are:

• Transit Security Grant Program (TSGP), which includes the Freight Rail Security Grant Program (FRSGP), and Intercity Passenger Rail (Amtrak).
• Intercity Bus Security Grant Program (IBSGP)
• Port Security Grant Program (PSGP)
• Buffer Zone Protection Program (BZPP)
• Emergency Operations Centers (EOC) Grant Program
• Interoperable Emergency Communications Grant Program (IECGP)
• Driver’s License Security Grant Program (DLSGP)

The U.S. Department of Transportation's Maritime Administration (MARAD) on Thursday (4/15) announced $14.7 million in grant awards to help improve 17 small shipyards in 16 states.

The funds are allocated for purchasing modern equipment and training workers at shipyards that provide essential services to commercial and government ships.

On Monday, March 8, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood formally released to Congress and to the public the "Blue Ribbon" Panel Report on the U.S Merchant Marine Academy. The report, commissioned in May 2009, examines the current U.S. Merchant Marine Academy facilities and provides advice to the Maritime Administration on the priority of future capital projects.

It is being reported that the Baltimore County Police Department is planning on using federal funds to purchase a variety of equipment to improve security at the Port of Baltimore. The nearly $1million in funds are earmarked for purchasing tactical response boats and dive and search equipment.

DHS announced today (9/23) that the Port Security Grant Program (PSGP) is awarding $150 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funding to protect critical port infrastructure from terrorism; enhance maritime domain awareness and risk management capabilities; and support the implementation of the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC).

U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Napolitano has announced nearly $1.8 billion in Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) preparedness grants for fiscal year 2009.

This money is designed to help states, urban areas, tribal governments and non-profit agencies fund the enhancement of protection, prevention, response and recovery capabilities for all disasters.

The money will be allocated across these programs and initiatives.

• State Homeland Security Program (SHSP)
• Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI)
• Metropolitan Medical Response System Program (MMRS)
• State Homeland Security Program Tribal (SHSP Tribal)
• Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP)
• Regional Catastrophic Preparedness Grant Program (RCPGP)

For more information about applying visit Fema.gov/grants.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has announced the FY 2009 Operation Stonegarden grants. This money is allocated to 13 northern and southern border states, and Puerto Rico to enhance the capabilities of federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies to jointly secure U.S. borders and territories. The grants total $60 million with Texas receiving the most at nearly $17 million and Idaho getting the least at just over $225,000.

The Port of Oakland is to receive $11.8 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2008, which the port will use to fund its Harbor Deepening Project, as well as harbor operations and maintenance. The fifth busiest U.S. container port began the deepening project in 2001. According to a statement from the port, by the time the project is complete as many as 8,800 jobs will have been created, and annual business revenue will increase by $1.9 billion.