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Contact: Laura Van Wert, 410-732-9564
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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
OFFERS GRANTS TO NONPROFITS
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BALTIMORE, MD (March 25, 2014) - Once again the Department of Homeland Security is making grants available to 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations to make their high-risk facilities more secure against terrorist attacks. The program seeks to integrate nonprofit preparedness activities with broader state and local efforts. It also is designed to promote coordination and collaboration in emergency preparedness activities among public and private community representatives and state and local governments. The DHS grant program will provide a total of $13 million to high-risk nonprofit organizations throughout the U.S.
Applications must be submitted electronically to the Baltimore Urban Area Work Group (UAWG) through the appropriate local UAWG law enforcement representative as listed below. Deadline for submission is Friday, May 9th, 2014. Incomplete applications may not be considered. The UAWG will score applications before forwarding them to DHS.
Criteria for determining eligible applicants who are at high risk of terrorist attack include, but are not limited to:
- Identification and substantiation (e.g. police reports or insurance claims) of prior threats or attacks against the nonprofit organization or closely related organizations (within or outside the U.S.) by a terrorist organization, network, or cell
- Symbolic value of the site(s) as a highly recognized national or historical institution that renders the site a possible target of international terrorism
- Role of the applicant nonprofit organization in responding to or recovering from international terrorist attacks
- Findings from previously conducted risk assessments including threat or vulnerability
Grants are recommended to target no more than $75,000, with an optional match, as this had been the limit in past years.
In addition, all projects must comply with Environmental and Historic Preservation laws. All grantees will be required to develop an environmental planning and historic preservation Statement of Work (SOW), which must be submitted to FEMA for certification prior to the initiation of projects.
Eligible enhancements include such things as closed circuit television systems for perimeters of community facilities; vehicle barriers, lighting and fencing for perimeter security; and personal identification systems to limit unauthorized access to facilities.
The UAWG is composed of emergency management officials from the Baltimore Metropolitan Council's member jurisdictions, which include Baltimore City and Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Carroll, Harford and Howard counties, plus the City of Annapolis.
Additional information is available online at
Questions may be directed to the appropriate local law enforcement representative.
UAWG Law Enforcement Representatives
Anne Arundel County: Capt. Fred Plitt 410-222-3028 Annapolis City: Capt. Scott Williams 410-268-9000 Baltimore City: Director Stephanie Farina 410-396-2607 Baltimore County: Cpl. Timothy McCreer 410-887-5639 Carroll County: Sgt. James Fisher 410-386-2255 Harford County: Capt. Duane Williams 410-638-4914 Howard County: Lt. Michael Price 410-313-6013 |
