South Dakota Grants $5 Million to Local Governments for Homeland Security

Local and tribal governments throughout South Dakota are getting more than $5 million in grants from the South Dakota Office of Homeland Security. The $5,068,235 will be distributed to tribal and county governments through a regional process.

The South Dakota Homeland Security Senior Advisory Committee sets the homeland security spending priorities for the state. The $5 million is dedicated for projects supporting the following priorities:

• Emergency Notification and Warning
• Interoperable Communications
• Mobile Data Terminals
• Community Preparedness and Participation
• Improvised Explosive Device Capabilities

"We're pleased to be able to provide some funding to the local governments. Preparedness, response, and training at the most-local level are crucial to any type of emergency response," said John Berheim, South Dakota Office of Homeland Security Director. "These dollars are designed to fortify and protect our local jurisdictions."

The Homeland Security grant is funded with federal dollars. It is distributed through a reimbursement program. Each region or tribe submits potential projects to the state. Once those projects have been approved, each region or tribe pays for the project and then is reimbursed by the state upon completion of that project.