For the second consecutive year, Alabama has received more federal homeland security grants for technology and equipment improvements in rural communities and small towns than any other state.


Alabama is being awarded 76 grants under the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Commercial Equipment Direct Assistance Program (CEDAP). The second highest number of grants was awarded to Ohio and Texas, both with 61. CEDAP is a competitive grant program that assists smaller jurisdictions by providing funds for antiterrorism equipment and technology. The awards provide equipment for communications interoperability, information sharing, chemical detection and personal protective equipment, together with training and technical assistance on using that equipment.


"When we created the nation's first state-level Department of Homeland Security, we put in place an aggressive and comprehensive strategy to secure these federal grants. That strategy is obviously working very well and our rural communities and smaller towns are seeing the benefits," said Governor Bob Riley. "We'll never ignore the security and public safety needs of our rural areas and small towns."


Alabama Department of Homeland Security Director Jim Walker said, "These grants are going to be used in 32 different Alabama counties and will provide valuable capabilities to every region in the state. The framework we have in place for growing homeland security capabilities and coordinating efforts statewide continues to greatly benefit our public safety community and the citizens we serve."


Last year, Alabama received the most CEDAP grants in the nation with 58, followed by New Jersey with 33 and Illinois with 32.


Governor Riley proposed the creation of the Alabama Department of Homeland Security in early 2003 and it was established by an act of the Legislature on June 18 of that year. Alabama was the first state in the nation to create its own legislatively enacted Cabinet-level Department of Homeland Security.

KW