Secretary Napolitano and Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley Announce $6 Million in Recover Act Homeland Security Grants for Maryland
BALTIMORE, MD (September 23, 2009) –Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano and Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley today announced $6 million in new American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) grants for fire station construction and port security initiatives in Maryland.
“I am proud to join Governor O’Malley to announce these Recovery Act grants that will help reinvigorate our economy, while strengthening and protecting critical infrastructure in Maryland and across America,” said Secretary Napolitano. “These grants will enhance our resiliency and national security while infusing Recovery Act dollars into local Maryland communities.”
“One of the most solemn obligations we have as public servants is to protect the safety and security of our people,” said Governor O’Malley. “Thanks to President Obama’s Recovery and Reinvestment Act, and the leadership of Secretary Napolitano at the Department of Homeland Security, we’re able to continue critical investments in our security infrastructure, ensuring that the national economic crisis does not compromise the progress we’ve already made in securing our homeland.”
“These Recovery Act funds will make a real difference in protecting jobs and saving lives. They support our first responders in Anne Arundel County who risk their lives to protect ours,” U.S. Senator Barbara Mikulski of Maryland said. “They also are an investment in port protection, keeping Maryland’s ports safe, secure and growing. I will continue to fight to make sure our economic and community security is a priority in the federal checkbook.”
Maryland will receive $4.1 million under the Port Security Grant Program (PSGP) to protect critical infrastructure in the Port of Baltimore area and $1.9 million under the Fire Station Construction Grant Program (SCG) to replace an Anne Arundel County Fire Department fire station in Glen Burnie, Md.
The announcement came as Secretary Napolitano announced more than $380 million in ARRA grants for preparedness and resiliency projects nationwide—funds that will protect critical infrastructure facilities and transit systems and strengthen community response efforts by supporting new fire station construction.
The Port Security Grant Program (PSGP) is awarding $150 million in 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)—a tamper-resistant biometric credential issued to workers who require unescorted access to secure areas of ports and vessels.
The Transit Security Grant Program (TSGP) is awarding $72 million in ARRA funding for capital projects, such as improvements to high-density tunnels, stations and bridges.
The Fire Station Construction Grant Program (SCG) is awarding $166 million for fire departments to build new or modify existing fire stations to enhance response capabilities and protect communities from fire-related hazards. These grants will replace unsafe or uninhabitable structures and expand fire protection coverage in compliance with National Fire Protection Association standards.
Today’s announcements come in addition to the $78 million in ARRA-funded Transit Security Grant Program (TSGP) grants announced by Secretary Napolitano in July—including $9.6 million to pay for additional law enforcement officers in the National Capital Region.
Secretary Napolitano also announced $100 million in ARRA-funded Emergency Food and Shelter Grants in April, including more than $1.4 million for Maryland, to be administered by the United Way. In total, more than $1.34 billion in ARRA dollars have been awarded this year for DHS port, transit and firefighter assistance grants across the nation.
In awarding ARRA funds, DHS prioritizes shovel-ready projects that infuse resources into local economies quickly while meeting critical security needs. DHS has obligated more than 30 percent of its ARRA funds to date, and is on track to obligate more than 50 percent by the end of September 2009.
ARRA, signed into law by President Obama on Feb. 19, committed more than $3 billion for homeland security projects through DHS and the General Services Administration (GSA)—including $610 million to FEMA for grants to local communities across the country.
For more information on preparedness grant programs or the Recovery Act, visit www.dhs.gov, www.dhs.gov/recovery and www.fema.gov/grants.
