DETROIT, May 22 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The U.S. Department of Homeland
Security has announced $844 million in funding for fiscal year 2008, as part
of its Infrastructure Protection Activities Grant Program, including over $388
million for its Port Security Grant Program. The Detroit/Wayne County Port
Authority (DWCPA), as part of this announcement, has received its third
consecutive round of funding, while being named as the Fiduciary Agent for
Sector Detroit by the U.S. Coast Guard, Ninth District and its Area Maritime
Security Committee.
"This is welcomed news," said Curtis Hertel, Executive Director of the
DWCPA. "We are thankful that the federal government has come to understand
and appreciate the critical importance of our international port and waterway
to the regional and national economy. We look forward to working with our
regional homeland security counterparts to make good use of our funding."
The Detroit/Wayne County Port Authority received $1.6 million in fiscal
year 2008, bringing its total funding secured from this program to well over
$4.5 million since its inception after 9/11. As Fiduciary Agent, the Port
Authority will assume the responsibility for marketing and organizing projects
on behalf of Sector Detroit's, Area Maritime Security Committee, which is
comprised of the region's homeland security directors and exports. The Port
Authority will accomplish this by developing a Risk Mitigation Plan that will
supplement and update existing security plans for the Port of Detroit.
"It's our goal to address homeland security vulnerabilities through this
program. However we can also accomplish economic development goals by
encouraging regional and national companies to help us address our needs,"
said John Kerr, Director of Economic Development & Grants Management for the
DWCPA. "We should use this grant program as a springboard to make Southeast
Michigan a hotbed for homeland security technology, similar to what NextEnergy
and Automation Alley have been able to accomplish for alternative energy and
advanced automotive."
SOURCE The Detroit/Wayne County Port Authority
John K. Kerr, The Detroit-Wayne County Port Authority, +1-313-331-3842 Ext.
311, kerr@portdetroit.com
