Maine Granted $6.5 Million in Homeland Security Funds

June 16, 2009 -- AUGUSTA – Maine Governor John E. Baldacci today announced that the State of Maine will receive $6,524,500 in State Homeland Security Grant Program funds. The funds from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) support regional emergency planning, training and exercise programs, as well as maintenance costs for regional response teams and equipment. A portion of these funds is typically made available to communities under a competitive grant program.

"Maine has a great track record of spending homeland security funds wisely," Governor John Baldacci said. "We have set priorities based on our risk, including our long coastline and international border. We have established robust regional response capability, trained hundreds of first responders to national standards and are in the process of modernizing and hardening our public safety communications systems. Maine has been a leader in the effective use of these funds, and we're pleased that the federal support will continue."

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This year’s allocation to Maine is a six percent increase from last year’s grant. The increase is in part due to a restructuring of the formula in state grants.

The Citizen Corps program, which supports volunteer community response teams, will receive $146,931, equivalent to last year. The Metropolitan Medical Response System, in which Maine participates in a joint program with New Hampshire and Vermont, also received continuing funding.

FEMA previously announced continuing funding for a program which reimburses law enforcement agencies for their support to the U.S. Border Patrol, and a program for detailed security planning around high-risk sites. Maine also receives an annual FEMA Emergency Management grant which provides matching funds to state, county and local emergency management agencies.

The Homeland Security Grant Program is administered by the Maine Emergency Management Agency. Grants are expected to be formally awarded to the State in the next 60 days. The State then has 45 days to allocate the funds.

More detail on these grant programs can be found at http://www.fema.gov/grants

Source: Maine Governor