The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will provide more than $844 million in grant awards as part of its Infrastructure Protection Activities (IPA) grant program. Grant awards will be used to strengthen security at ports and enhance transit, trucking and intercity bus systems.
“With this year’s funding, the department will have provided roughly $3 billion in grants for securing the nation’s critical infrastructure and transportation systems,” says DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff. “As capabilities mature, we’re encouraging state and local governments and the private sector to prioritize IED [improvised explosive device] prevention and protection, communications capabilities, information sharing and regionally-based security cooperation.”
Fiscal year 2008 IPA awards represent a 29-percent increase from last year. They include:
- Port Security Grant Program: $388.6 million
- Transit Security Grant Program: $380.1 million
- Intercity Bus Security Grant Program: $11.2 million
- Buffer Zone Protection Program: $48.5 million
- Trucking Security Grant Program (TSP): $15.5 million
IPA grants reinforce the department’s approach to risk-based funding and commitment to regional planning and security coordination. Grant determinations are based on the threat levels, vulnerabilities and the effectiveness of proposed solutions.
For more information on IPA grants, visit www.dhs.gov.
