State Homeland Security Program

The State Homeland Security Program is part of the broader Homeland Security Grant Program administered by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security through the Federal Emergency Management Agency. This program was established to strengthen national preparedness and resilience against terrorism and other catastrophic threats by supporting coordinated efforts across federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial levels. Since its inception in 2003, the program has evolved to address emerging risks including cybersecurity threats, protection of soft targets, and election security, while maintaining its core focus on prevention, protection, response, and recovery capabilities. The primary purpose of the program is to provide funding to enhance the ability of jurisdictions to prevent, prepare for, protect against, and respond to acts of terrorism. It achieves this through three components: the State Homeland Security Program, the Urban Area Security Initiative, and Operation Stonegarden. The State Homeland Security Program specifically supports statewide capability development aligned with risk assessments and strategic priorities identified through the Threat and Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment and Stakeholder Preparedness Review processes. These efforts aim to close capability gaps and build sustainable preparedness systems. Funding under this program supports a wide range of activities categorized into planning, organization, equipment, training, and exercises. Allowable uses include investments in cybersecurity, infrastructure protection, intelligence sharing, law enforcement terrorism prevention, and emergency response coordination. However, strict limitations apply, including prohibitions on purchasing weapons or supporting routine public safety operations. Additionally, recipients must allocate specific percentages of funding to national priority areas and law enforcement terrorism prevention activities, ensuring alignment with federal strategic goals. Eligibility for the program is limited at the applicant level to State Administrative Agencies, which serve as the official applicants and recipients of funds. These agencies are responsible for distributing funds through subawards to local governments, tribal entities, and other eligible organizations. Tribal governments cannot apply directly but may receive funding through state-administered subawards. Applicants must maintain active federal registrations, including a Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management registration, and must comply with federal requirements related to financial integrity and program administration. The application process requires submission through the FEMA Grants Outcomes system and includes completion of standard federal forms, detailed investment justifications, and budget information. Applicants must align proposed projects with national priorities, demonstrate measurable outcomes, and provide evidence of coordination across agencies. Applications undergo both state-level and federal-level review processes that assess eligibility, feasibility, compliance, and alignment with risk-based priorities. Final funding decisions are made by the Secretary of Homeland Security. The program follows a defined annual timeline, with application periods opening in late June and closing in mid-July. The period of performance spans three years, allowing recipients to implement long-term capability-building projects. While the program does not require cost sharing, it imposes strict pass-through requirements mandating that a significant portion of funds be distributed to local entities. Recurrence is annual, with each cycle reflecting updated priorities and evolving national security needs.

Ensure all projects align with THIRA and SPR identified capability gaps and clearly demonstrate compliance with national priority areas and LETPA spending requirements