DHS grants total millions for IT

The Homeland Security Department's final allocations for $970 million in preparedness grants to state and local governments and private entities include millions of dollars for information technology programs.

The largest allocations are $389 million for port security and $389 million for transit security, including freight rail, intercity passenger rail, truck and bus programs. The ports will be able to use a portion of the funds for the Transportation Workers Identification Credential initiative.

The funds include $2.2 million for the Trucking Security program, which will distribute money to buy, install, and enhance tracking systems for tractors and trailers, and pay for systems to monitor, collect and analyze the tracking information, among other activities.

The allocations also include:

• $33 million for the Emergency Operations Center Grant Program to help such centers develop interoperable communications.
• $49 million for the Interoperable Emergency Communications Grant Program for planning, training, exercises and equipment related to improvements in cross-jurisdictional and cross-agency communications.
• $49 million for the Driver’s License Security Grant Program to help states carry out the mandates of the Real ID Act of 2005.