NY receives $1.5 million in Homeland Security grants

Grand Island Dispatch, April 20, 2007

The United States Department of Homeland Security has announced it awarded over 2,000 equipment and training grants to first responders across the nation as a part of the Commercial Equipment Direct Assistance Program (CEDAP). This program helps to ensure that law enforcement and emergency responders can acquire specialized equipment and training to meet their homeland security mission. As part of this, first responder organizations in New York will receive roughly $1,577,459 in equipment and training awards.

“CEDAP is yet another mechanism for the Department to work with our local homeland security partners in strengthening this nation’s ability to prevent, protect, respond and recover from a natural disaster or terrorist attack,” said George Foresman, under secretary for preparedness. “This program enhances state and local communities’ capabilities as well as arming their first responders with the tools to build stronger regional coordination.”

CEDAP offers equipment in the following categories: personal protective equipment; thermal imaging, night vision, and video surveillance tools; chemical and biological detection tools; information technology and risk management tools; and interoperable communications equipment. This program also focuses on those smaller communities and metropolitan areas not eligible for the Urban Area Security Initiative grant program to apply for assistance through this program.

Awardees are required to receive training on their awarded equipment either on-site or at a CEDAP training conference.

The following first responder organizations in New York received equipment and training awards through the fiscal year 2006 CEDAP:

City of North Tonawanda Police Department, modular portable video system; Town of Niagara Police Department, thermovision scout ZX; Lewiston Police Department, thermal imager for law enforcement.

For fiscal year 2006, this direct assistance grant program totaled $34.6 million. Since its inception in fiscal year 2005, Homeland Security has awarded over $69.7 million in equipment and training to law enforcement and fire departments through CEDAP.