DHS announces FY2019 preparedness grant opportunities

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced fiscal-year 2019 notices of funding opportunity for more than $1.7 billion in preparedness grant programs.

The programs provide grants to state, local, tribal and territorial governments, as well as transportation authorities, nonprofit organizations and the private sector to improve the nation's readiness in preventing, protecting against and responding to terrorist attacks, major disasters and other emergencies.

Allocations will include $100 million for the Port Security Grant Program; $88 million for the Transit Security Grant Program; $10 million for the Intercity Passenger Rail-Amtrak Program; and $2 million for the Intercity Bus Security Grant Program.

"The DHS grant programs are flexible by design and will be used to help address evolving threats," said DHS Deputy Secretary David Pekoske in a press release. "They will go toward building and sustaining capabilities across all levels of government and the whole community to maximize preparedness."

All notices can be found at grants.gov. Final submissions must be made through the Non-Disaster Grants system by May 29.

The American Public Transportation Association will host a webinar May 8 to discuss the notices of funding opportunity, timelines and to address stakeholders' questions.