The Fund Finder News
Public Safety Grants Consulting
The Fund Finder News
A Bi-Weekly Grants News and Information Update By Kurt Bradley
Issue 13, October 22, 2004
"DHS 2005 Funding: What Does It Mean For First Responders?"
What does the $40.7 billion 2005 DHS budget get spent on? How much of this money is available to first responders, and for what purposes?
President Bush signed the funding budget for DHS into law on October 19. The Department of Homeland Security budget for 2005 was set at $40.7 billion dollars, which represents an increase in their budget of $1.8 billion over FY2004 spending.
A large chunk of this money will go to Federal Agencies, as shown in this partial breakdown:
- US Coast Guard received $500 million for port security efforts and to further implement the Maritime Transportation Security Act. This act contains provisions for the Container Security Initiative for pre-screening of inbound and outbound shipping containers arriving at and leaving from U.S. ports. A further $724 million funds the Integrated Deepwater System Initiative.
- Project Bio-Shield has been allocated $2.5 billion for several programs designed to increase our ability to detect, respond to and recover from an incident of bioterrorism. This will include money to increase the monitoring of air quality in high-threat cities and high-value targets such as large-capacity sports stadiums. The project also aims to increase the Strategic National Stockpile of vaccines (safe and approved) for bio-defense. The National Disaster Medical System – Fire/ Rescue and EMS departments, pay attention – is receiving an infusion of $20 million dollars from FEMA for the purposes of training and planning exercises associated with medical need surges typically related to incidents of WMD.
- Transportation Security Administration will receive funding in the amount of $5.1 billion, primarily to improve the safety at airports for monitoring and screening of baggage and cargo. The Federal Air Marshals Program, now under Immigration and Customs Enforcement received $663 million. The number of Air Marshals on domestic and international flights will increase dramatically.
- Immigration Concerns have been included in $179 million budgeted for increasing efforts to enhance immigration enforcement both domestically and overseas. $123 million is targeted strictly for detaining and removing illegal aliens. $56 million was approved to be used in just detection and locating of these individuals. Another $160 million is appropriated for decreasing the backlog of immigration applications and streamlining of the application process to take no more than six months.
- National Incident Management System (NIMS) has been allocated $15 million to develop NIMS-related training, guidance and publications. It will also be used to support national resource management, an inventory of federal response assets, and a national credentialing system.
So after all of that, what is left for local-level first responders?
Support for State & Local Governments and First Responders
DHS has set aside $4 billion dollars to assist state and local governments and first responders.
- State-Based Formula Grants received $1.5 billion dollars, including $400 million for law enforcement with the provision that they be per-capita-based. The "all hazards" Emergency Management Performance Grant Program (PDF format)* received $180 million.
- Urban Areas Security Initiative: If your city is included in the Urban Areas Security Initiative, $885 million is allocated for this program for 2005. That is below the $1.45 billion that was requested. $150 million will be specifically for transportation security grants for port security and rail/transit grants. Cities with large mass transit systems will benefit significantly from this.
- Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program (AFGP) was allocated $715 million, which includes $65 million for hiring. That amount is considerably lower than the requested $500 million for hiring initiatives alone. Not many firefighters will be hired in 2005. The program managers have called for the program to maintain its "all hazards" focus instead.
Priorities & Strategy
Jump to your industry:
In light of this information, where should you direct your grant priorities for 2005?
Fire Departments should stay away from any initiatives for hiring.
Hiring: The pool of money for hiring additional firefighters is much smaller than asked for. You will probably only see large metropolitan areas receiving hiring grants. For those that do, you had better be sure that your application solidly addresses how and when you will be absorbing this additional personnel into the department's local budgets, as this hiring money will certainly be tied to that sustainability issue.
Don't let yourselves get sucked into the COPS program failures that law enforcement is dealing with. If your department does receive money to increase manpower, be sure your city leaders know that they MUST hire the person into their own budget when the grant money runs out after the year. Proper planning and considerable forethought is needed for these projects.
For vehicle money, FDs should also keep in mind that the AFGP program allows only 25% of the total $665 million to be allocated for new vehicles. That means that more than 10,000 departments will historically apply for a pool of money limited to $166 million. The 2004 program received most of the AFGP applications this year for vehicles. Many of you received, or will receive, rejection notices due to this.
Focus on PPE and training: Target your grants instead for PPE and training programs. Training programs were one of the areas that were least applied for last year and in 2003. Heed the warning: "what you don't use, you lose". If you don't start going after some of this training money, they will take it away. Remember the old adage that what is sometimes considered "equipment" can also be considered a "training aid" as well, when putting these grant applications together.
First response capacity: Special emphasis should also be placed on increasing your capacity to deal with areas you are currently unable to cope with. Haz-Mat operations and training will certainly be an area that many should look at. Equipment to deal with Haz-Mat during the "first responder" phase (30-60 minutes) should be easy acquisitions for this year's program.
Rescue and EMS divisions should pay special attention to National Disaster Medical System (NDMS) money.
NDMS: $20 million has been set aside to conduct training exercises and increase capabilities to deal with medical surge emergencies.
AFGP Eligibility for Standalone Rescue/EMS: Additionally, this year brings good news for private and government standalone Rescue and EMS services. As long as you are a not-for-profit entity, the AFGP WILL allow you to apply for assistance this year. This came about on the insistence of IAFC recommendations.
Fire Act Grant Program 2005: There are also some additional changes in the Fire Act Grant Program for 2005, with lower matches and higher threshold amounts. I will address those changes in a future column.
Law enforcement should focus their attention on several areas of concern. These are in the areas of transportation security for mass transit, port security efforts, and surveillance and immigration issues. Programs which address these issues in some manner, and are consistent with the established Homeland Defense plans for the individual states, should find ample funding available for them for training and equipment needs.
Universal Hiring Program: I expect that the Universal Hiring Program (UHP) will again not be funded, so hiring initiatives other than through LLEBG funds will probably be non-existent.
Keep Good Stats: Additionally, in order for you to have a piece of the pie you must maintain and prove that your statistics justify the need. If you are not adequately reporting your Uniform Crime Index figures, keeping up with what your actual populations are, and accurately documenting the work and problems you encounter on an everyday basis, then start doing it. These grant applications must be backed by solid statistics. They are also based upon "per capita" formulas, so reporting your statistical data is crucial to access these funds.
Stress Interoperability: Look to develop programs which stress "interoperability" with other agencies, or provide services that a large number of agencies can take advantage of.
Conclusion: NIMS Compliance
Finally, for all departments I cannot over emphasize the importance of starting to address your compliance with NIMS. Compliance guidelines will released over the coming months, so get your department on top of compliance issues by logging on to the NIMS website, keeping up with NIMS, and taking action in your department.
NIMS received $15 million to start developing programs and publications. As these are made available, start doing planning and training grants so your department is up to speed with compliance requirements by 2006.
Read the Full Announcement Regarding DHS Funding FY2005 »
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