Connecticut to Receive $15 Million in Federal Homeland Security Grants

Connecticut will be receiving more than $15 million in federal homeland security funds to help protect critical cities and sites, to prepare for disasters in which large numbers of people are injured and to strengthen the state’s emergency response planning at all levels.

The specific grants to Connecticut are:

* State Homeland Security Program (SHSP), $8,894,442: Funds to support the implementation of state homeland security strategies to build and strengthen capabilities at all levels through planning, equipment and readiness activities.

* Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI), $2,812,361 to Bridgeport $2,752,043 to Hartford: These funds enhance regional preparedness capabilities in 64 high-threat, high-density areas.

* Metropolitan Medical Response System (MMRS), $317,419: These grants are evenly divided among 124 MMRS jurisdictions to improve regional mass-casualty incident preparedness and response capabilities.

* Citizen Corps Program (CCP), $178,606: Funds to engage citizens in community preparedness, response and recovery activities.

* Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP), $75,000 to St. Vincent’s Medical Center, Bridgeport: Funds to support “target-hardening” activities at non-profit organizations that are at high risk of a terrorist attack and are located within one of the UASI-eligible urban areas.

ON DEMAND: In this webinar, Regina Lester, Vice President of Security & Safety Operations at Toledo Zoo, will share her insights on implementing security technologies in the entertainment sector and the challenges all organizations face — large and small — when it comes to balancing budget and security.