Grant Programs Directorate (GPD) Preparedness Grants Portfolio
The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Grant Programs Directorate (GPD) is 
programmatically responsible for a suite of 18 preparedness grant programs throughout the entire grants 
management lifecycle.  This lifecycle begins with Fiscal Year appropriation analysis, development of 
program guidance, and solicitation release.  Upon receipt of submitted applications, GPD conducts 
thorough Federal and peer reviews prior to making final award determinations and notifying grantees.  
Once awards have been made, GPD leads all payment processing, programmatic monitoring activities, 
program compliance, and financial monitoring.  To closeout awards made through its suite of 18 
programs, GPD evaluates final performance reports, conducts final financial reconciliation, and retains all 
records for future auditing and reporting.  

Homeland Security Grant Program (HSGP)
The HSGP is comprised of five inter-connected grant programs that provide a primary funding 
mechanism for building and sustaining national preparedness capabilities.  Together, these grant 
programs fund a range of preparedness activities, including planning, organization, equipment purchase, 
training, exercises, and management and administration.  The HSGP consists of the following programs:    
*	State Homeland Security Program (SHSP): The SHSP provides funding to support the 
implementation of State Homeland Security Strategies to address the identified planning, 
organization, equipment, training, and exercise needs at the State and local levels to prevent, 
protect against, respond to, and recover from acts of terrorism and other catastrophic events.  
SHSP also provides funding to implement initiatives in the State Preparedness Report.  
Consistent with the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Act of 2007 (Public Law 110-
53) (9/11 Act), States are required to ensure that at least 25 percent (25%) of SHSP 
appropriated funds are dedicated towards law enforcement terrorism prevention-oriented 
planning, organization, training, exercise, and equipment activities, including those activities 
which support the development and operation of fusion centers.   
*	Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI): The UASI Program provides funding to address the 
unique planning, organization, equipment, training, and exercise needs of high-threat, high-
density Urban Areas (UAs), and assists them in building an enhanced and sustainable capacity to 
prevent, protect against, respond to, and recover from acts of terrorism.  Per the 9/11 Act, States 
are required to ensure that at least 25 percent (25%) of UASI appropriated funds are dedicated 
towards law enforcement terrorism prevention activities.
*	Metropolitan Medical Response System (MMRS): The MMRS Program provides funding to 
support the integration of emergency management, health, and medical systems into a 
coordinated response to mass casualty incidents caused by any hazard.  Successful MMRS 
grantees reduce the consequences of a mass casualty incident during the initial period of a 
response by having augmented existing local operational response systems before an incident 
occurs.


*	Citizen Corps Program (CCP): The CCP provides funding to bring community and 
government leaders together to coordinate the involvement of community members and 
organizations in emergency preparedness, planning, mitigation, response, and recovery. 
*	Operation Stonegarden (OPSG): The OPSG Program provides funding to enhance 
cooperation and coordination among local, Tribal, territorial, State, and Federal law 
enforcement agencies in a joint mission to secure the United States’ borders along routes of 
ingress from international borders to include travel corridors in States bordering Mexico and 
Canada, as well as States and territories with international water borders.

Emergency Management Performance Grants (EMPG) Program
The EMPG Program is intended to make grants to states to assist state, local, and tribal governments in 
preparing for all hazards, as authorized by the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency 
Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.).  Title VI of the Stafford Act authorizes FEMA to make grants for the 
purpose of providing a system of emergency preparedness for the protection of life and property in the 
United States from hazards and to vest responsibility for emergency preparedness jointly in the Federal 
Government and the states and their political subdivisions.  The Federal Government, through the EMPG 
Program, provides necessary direction, coordination, and guidance, and provides necessary assistance, as 
authorized in this title so that a comprehensive emergency preparedness system exists for all hazards. 
Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Grant Program
The EOC Grant Program is intended to improve emergency management and preparedness capabilities by 
supporting flexible, sustainable, secure, strategically located, and fully interoperable EOCs with a focus on 
addressing identified deficiencies and needs.  This program provides funding for construction or 
renovation of a State, local, or Tribal government’s primary EOC.  Fully capable emergency operations 
facilities at the State and local levels are an essential element of a comprehensive national emergency 
management system and are necessary to ensure continuity of operations and continuity of government 
in major disasters caused by any hazard.  
Tribal Homeland Security Grant Program (THSGP) 
The THSGP provides supplemental funding directly to eligible Tribes to help strengthen the nation against 
risks associated with potential terrorist attacks.  The THSGP provides funding to support the 
implementation to address the identified planning, organization, equipment, training, and exercise needs 
of Tribes to prevent, protect against, respond to, and recover from acts of terrorism and other 
catastrophic events.  Consistent with the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Act of 2007 (Public 
Law 110-53) (9/11 Act), Tribes are required to ensure that at least 25 percent (25%) of THSGP 
appropriated funds are dedicated towards law enforcement terrorism prevention-oriented planning, 
organization, training, exercise, and equipment activities, including those activities which support the 
development and operation of fusion centers.   



Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP)
The NSGP provides funding support for target hardening activities to nonprofit organizations that are at 
high risk of terrorist attack and are located within one of the specific UASI-eligible UAs.
Driver’s License Security Grant Program (DLSGP) 
The Driver’s License Security Grant Program (DLSGP) is designed to prevent terrorism, reduce fraud and 
improve the reliability and accuracy of personal identification documents that States issue.  The DLSGP is 
intended to address a key recommendation of the 9/11 Commission to improve the integrity and security 
of State-issued driver’s licenses (DLs) and identification cards (IDs).  States are encouraged to work 
collectively to develop more secure systems to verify an applicant’s identity before issuing a DL or ID that 
can be accepted for official purposes.
Transit Security Grant Program (TSGP)
The TSGP provides funds to owners and operators of transit systems (which include intercity bus, 
commuter bus, ferries, and all forms of passenger rail) to protect critical surface transportation 
infrastructure and the traveling public from acts of terrorism, major disasters, and other emergencies.  
Intercity Passenger Rail (Amtrak)  

The IPR program creates a sustainable, risk-based effort to protect critical surface transportation 
infrastructure and the traveling public from acts of terrorism, major disasters, and other emergencies 
within the Amtrak rail system.
 
Port Security Grant Program (PSGP)
The PSPG provides funds for transportation infrastructure security activities to implement Area Maritime 
Transportation Security Plans and facility security plans among port authorities, facility operators, and 
State and local government agencies required to provide port security services. This program supports 
increased port-wide risk management; enhanced domain awareness; training and exercises; expansion of 
port recovery and resiliency capabilities; and further capabilities to prevent, detect, respond to, and 
recover from attacks involving improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and other non-conventional 
weapons.
Intercity Bus Security Grant Program (IBSGP)
The IBSGP provides funding to create a sustainable program for the protection of intercity bus systems 
and the traveling public from terrorism.  The program seeks to assist operators of fixed-route intercity 
and charter bus services in obtaining the resources required to support security measures such as 
enhanced planning, facility security upgrades and vehicle and driver protection.



Freight Rail Security Grant Program
The FRSGP provides funds to freight railroad carriers, owners and offerors of railroad cars, and owners of 
rail bridges to protect critical surface transportation infrastructure from acts of terrorism, major 
disasters, and other emergencies.  
Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG)
The AFG program provides resources directly to fire departments and nonaffiliated emergency medical 
services organizations to obtain critically needed equipment, protective gear, emergency vehicles, 
training and other resources needed to protect the public and emergency personnel from fire and related 
hazards.  Three types of grants are available under this program:
*	Assistance to Firefighter Grants (AFG):  AFG grants provide support to organizations that lack 
the tools and resources necessary to protect the health and safety of the public and their 
emergency response personnel with respect to fire and all other hazards.
*	Fire Prevention & Safety (FP&S): FP&S grants support activities in two categories: (1) activities 
designed to reach high-risk target groups and mitigate incidences of death and injuries caused by 
fire and fire-related hazards (“Fire Prevention and Safety Activity”); and (2) research and 
development activities aimed at improving firefighter safety (“Firefighter Safety Research and 
Development Activity”). 

Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER): SAFER grants provide financial 
assistance to help fire departments increase their cadre of frontline firefighters or to rehire firefighters 
that have been laid off.  The goal is to assist local fire departments with staffing and deployment 
capabilities so they may respond to emergencies whenever they occur, assuring their communities have 
adequate protection from fire and fire-related hazards. SAFER offers grants to support activities in two 
categories: (1) Hiring of Firefighters and (2) Recruitment and Retention of Volunteer Firefighters.

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“FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, 
sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.”

           May 2011


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