Governor Hochul Announces $10.5 Million Awarded Through Federal Homeland Security Program

Governor Hochul Announces $10.5 Million Awarded Through Federal Homeland Security Program

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced $10.5 million has been awarded through the federal FY 2023 and FY 2024 State Homeland Security Program to enhance the preparedness and response capabilities of 80 cities, towns, villages and counties statewide. Bomb squads, hazardous materials teams, explosive detection canine teams, tactical teams and technical rescue and urban search and rescue teams will receive the funding, which will be used to protect and secure critical infrastructure, mass gathering events and enhance local governments' cybersecurity capabilities.

"My number one priority is public safety and ensuring that local municipalities have the support necessary to protect New Yorkers when threats emerge," Governor Hochul said. "With these grants, we are directly investing in the teams who defend New York's critical infrastructure from physical and cyber threats and respond when emergencies strike - ensuring a secure New York ahead of this summer's events."

The State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services (DHSES) manages the funding available through seven targeted federal grant programs. Including the grants announced today, DHSES has distributed more than $108 million to these critical programs to date.

Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services Acting Commissioner Terry O'Leary said, "To keep New Yorkers safe, it is crucial that those on the first line of defense have the resources they need to do their work efficiently. This funding goes a long way to make sure our teams in various fields are trained and equipped to handle anything they face in the line of duty. We thank Governor Hochul for prioritizing public safety."

Senator Chuck Schumer said, "This $10.5 million federal investment to enhance homeland security programs will ensure more local governments can improve critical infrastructure to keep our communities safe. It's more important than ever to ensure our communities have the resources they need to ensure they are prepared to respond to any dangerous situation, from terror threats to toxic fires to cybersecurity. I'm grateful for Governor Hochul's work putting these federal dollars to good use, ensuring communities in every corner of New York are prepared for emergencies."

New York State Conference of Mayors Executive Director Barbara Van Epps said, "Local governments are on the front lines of keeping New Yorkers safe every single day. This critical funding will help ensure our cities and villages have the advanced tools and training necessary to stay ahead of evolving threats. We applaud Governor Hochul for her continued commitment to strengthening the partnership between the State and our local communities to ensure a safer, more resilient New York."

Executive Director of the New York State Association of Counties Stephen J. Acquario said, "These strategic investments are essential for county governments to prevent, detect and respond to evolving threats at mass gatherings, in our digital systems, and across critical infrastructure so we can better protect New Yorkers. On behalf of the recipient counties, we thank Governor Hochul for her consistent leadership and partnership with us so that every community-urban, suburban and rural-has the capacity to safeguard New Yorkers from both physical and cyber threats."

New York Association of Towns Executive Director Christopher A. Koetzle said, "The New York Association of Towns greatly appreciates the Governor's efforts to keep our towns and residents safe. As front-line providers of essential services and public safety, local governments are unfortunately frequent targets. We are grateful to the Governor for recognizing these challenges and providing funding that will help communities across the state stay safe and protect all New Yorkers."

Details of funding provided to localities from each of the grant programs follows:

Bomb Squad Initiative: This program helps equip and train the state's 12 local FBI-accredited bomb squads to locate and prevent potential emergencies caused by improvised explosive devices (IEDs). More than $32.3 million in dedicated homeland security funding has been awarded to New York bomb squads for the past 19 years.

Grantees: 12 subrecipients were awarded funds from both FY2023 and FY2024 cycles through this noncompetitive grant opportunity:

Subrecipient	2023 Funding Amount	2024 Funding Amount
Chautauqua County	$77,500	$44,014
Endicott, Village of	$95,000	$36,500
Erie County	$155,000	$44,014
Monroe County	$116,250	$44,014
Nassau County	$227,272	$81,818
New York City Police Department	$454,548	$163,636
Onondaga County	$95,000	$36,900
Rochester, City of	$116,250	$44,014
Rockland County	$113,636	$40,910
Suffolk County	$227,272	$81,818
Syracuse, City of	$95,000	$36,600
Westchester County	$227,272	$81,818
Total	$2,000,000	$736,056

Hazardous Materials Targeted Grant Program: This program serves as a resource for 18 regional HazMat Teams, outside of New York City, to sustain and enhance HazMat capabilities to help New Yorkers respond to and recover from acts of terrorism and other emergencies. Regions can use this funding to obtain and maintain essential equipment, implement the HazMat Team Accreditation Program, conduct training and exercises, and develop and update HazMat response plans.

Grantees: 18 subrecipients were awarded funds from both FY2023 and FY2024 cycles through this noncompetitive grant opportunity:

Subrecipient	2023 Funding Amount	2024 Funding Amount
Albany County	$171,750	$62,646
Broome County	$107,900	$39,829
Cayuga County	$81,900	$30,260
Chautauqua County	$90,700	$33,204
Columbia County	$44,300	$16,276
Erie County	$189,800	$70,007
Genesee County	$184,250	$67,799
Jefferson County	$56,300	$20,691
Montgomery County	$67,500	$25,108
Nassau County	$76,900	$28,052
Oneida County	$63,400	$23,635
Onondaga County	$104,800	$38,357
Orange County	$141,200	$52,342
Schuyler County	$114,900	$42,037
Seneca County	$110,600	$40,565
Suffolk County	$91,500	$33,940
Warren County	$179,800	$66,327
Westchester County	$122,500	$44,981
Total	$2,000,000	$736,056

Critical Infrastructure Grant Program: This program promotes a common understanding and approach to risk management as well as providing funding to support local first responder's efforts to mitigate risk and enhance protection capabilities at mass gatherings/special event sites, and government-owned critical infrastructure sites.

Grantees: 18 awards were made through this competitive grant opportunity:

Subrecipient	Funding Amount
Airmont, Village of	$50,000
Amherst, Town of	$50,000
Cortland County	$50,000
Hudson Falls, Village of	$49,395
Kent, Town of	$50,000
Kingston, City of	$23,084
Long Beach, City of	$21,166
Mamaroneck, Village of	$4,642
Massena, Village of	$6,000
Middletown, Town of	$50,000
Millbrook, Village of	$49,757
New York City Police Department	$50,000
Onondaga County	$50,000
Oswego County	$47,500
Rye, City of	$50,000
Schodack, Town of	$48,456
Utica, City of	$50,000
Yonkers, City of	$50,000
Total	$750,000

Cybersecurity Grant Program: This program provides funding support for eligible counties, cities, towns and villages to enhance their ability to protect, detect, identify, respond to and recover from cyber incidents. Funding may be utilized to mitigate capability gaps that have been identified through a risk assessment methodology via equipment, training, planning and exercise costs.

Grantees: 39 awards were made through this competitive grant opportunity:

Subrecipient	Funding Amount
Albany County	$50,000
Chenango County	$50,000
Clinton County	$50,000
Columbia County	$49,500
Cortland County	$49,005
Dutchess County	$50,000
Essex County	$50,000
Franklin County	$50,000
Freeport, Village of	$50,000
Genesee County	$50,000
Gloversville, City of	$50,000
Goshen, Town of	$16,285
Hamilton County	$50,000
Harrison, Town of	$17,125
Hempstead, Village of	$50,000
Hudson Falls, Village of	$50,000
Huntington, Town of	$20,000
Jefferson County	$50,000
Kent, Town of	$50,000
Kings Point, Village of	$31,500
Lewis County	$50,000
Long Beach, City of	$50,000
Lynbrook, Village of	$22,885
New York City Police Department	$50,000
Orleans County	$50,000
Pleasantville, Village of	$50,000
Poughkeepsie, Town of	$50,000
Rockland County	$50,000
Scarsdale, Village of	$50,000
Schenectady County	$50,000
Schenectady, City of	$50,000
Smithtown, Town of	$50,000
Syracuse, City of	$50,000
Troy, City of	$50,000
Warwick, Town of	$15,000
Washington County	$50,000
Westchester County	$50,000
Wolcott, Village of	$28,700
Wyoming County	$50,000
Total	$1,750,000

Explosive Detection Canine Team Grant Program: Funding through this program provides local law enforcement agencies with active road patrols aid to develop and enhance their explosive detection canine capabilities. Explosive Detection Canine Teams provide a visible, proactive police presence in areas of mass gathering, transportation centers and critical infrastructure sites. In addition to this deterrence presence they provide a mobile response capability for detection and identification of potential explosive device type incidents.

Grantees: 21 awards were made through this competitive grant opportunity (10 New Team projects; 11 Sustainment projects):

Subrecipient	Funding Amount
Albany County	$60,000
Albany, City of	$2,066
Binghamton, City of	$15,000
Chautauqua County	$15,000
Colonie, Town of	$12,934
Erie County	$60,000
New Rochelle, City of	$60,000
New York City Police Department	$60,000
New York City Police Department	$15,000
Niagara County	$15,000
Oneida County	$60,000
Onondaga County	$15,000
Orange County	$15,000
Poughkeepsie, Town of	$60,000
Rochester, City of	$15,000
Troy, City of	$60,000
Utica, City of	$60,000
Utica, City of	$15,000
Warwick, Town of	$60,000
Westchester County	$60,000
Yonkers, City of	$15,000
Total	$750,000

Tactical Team Targeted Grant Program: This funding supports New York State's tactical teams and provides them with the adequate skills and capabilities to provide a safe and successful response to high-risk incidents including active shooter events and other counterterrorism missions. Funding must be in support of the team's attainment/sustainment of New York State accreditation for tactical teams to include supporting necessary equipment, planning and training costs required to meet the rigorous standards.

Grantees: 17 awards were made through this competitive grant opportunity:

Subrecipient	Funding Amount
Amherst, Town of	$75,000
Cheektowaga, Town of	$75,000
Colonie, Town of	$75,000
Erie County	$75,000
Greece, Town of	$75,000
Ithaca, City of	$50,000
Jamestown, City of	$75,000
New Rochelle, City of	$75,000
North Tonawanda, City of	$75,000
Onondaga County	$75,000
Poughkeepsie, Town of	$75,000
Rochester, City of	$75,000
Syracuse, City of	$75,000
Utica, City of	$75,000
Westchester County	$75,000
White Plains, City of	$75,000
Yonkers, City of	$75,000
Total	$1,250,000

Technical Rescue & Urban Search and Rescue Grant Program: This program focuses on the enhancement of Technical Rescue and USAR teams for local emergency responders who provide services involving structural collapse, trench, confined space and rope rescue which help New Yorkers respond to and recover from acts of terrorism and other emergencies.

Grantees: 8 awards were made through this competitive grant opportunity:

Subrecipient	Funding Amount
Erie County	$50,000
Monroe County	$98,691
Niagara County	$50,000
New York City Fire Department	$70,064
Schenectady County	$50,000
Seneca County	$31,245
Sullivan County	$50,000
Westchester County	$100,000
Total	$500,000

About the State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services

The Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services provides leadership, coordination and support for efforts to prevent, protect against, prepare for, respond to and recover from terrorism, natural disasters, threats, fires and other emergencies. For more information, visit the DHSES Facebook page, follow @NYSDHSES on X, or visit dhses.ny.gov.

Get real time emergency and weather alert texts delivered directly to your phone. Text your county or borough of residence to 333111 to enroll now. Learn more at dhses.ny.gov/emergency-alerts.

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