Massachusetts Awarded Over $22.2 Million in Federal Homeland Security Grant Funds

Massachusetts Awarded Over $22.2 Million in Federal Homeland Security Grant Funds 

Terrorism Prevention Funds Support Statewide Efforts, Benefit Large Event Security 

  

BOSTON – The Healey-Driscoll Administration today announced that Massachusetts has been awarded $22,229,725 in federal funding through the Federal Fiscal Year 2025 Homeland Security Grant Program to support efforts to prevent acts of terrorism. The funds will support local, regional and statewide initiatives that strengthen the state’s preparedness and enhance public safety. In Massachusetts, the grants are managed and administered by the Office of Grants and Research (OGR) within the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security (EOPSS). 

 

The first round of grants, totaling $18,883,779, has been awarded to the state’s Regional Homeland Security Advisory Councils to support critical public safety programs. The remaining funds will be distributed later this spring to state agencies through a competitive application process. 

 

“Our administration is committed to doing everything we can to keep Massachusetts residents safe,” said Governor Maura Healey. “These funds will strengthen preparedness across our state, support the work of first responders and ensure our communities are ready to respond when emergencies happen. We’re grateful for the leadership of Attorney General Campbell for opposing the Trump Administration’s attempts to reduce this funding and winning back the full amount that Massachusetts deserves.” 

 

“The investments made through these grants will help ensure that Massachusetts communities are safer and better prepared in the event of a catastrophic event,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “These funds allow communities to prepare for emergencies through planning, training and securing equipment that will save lives.” 

 

“These investments strengthen the partnerships that keep Massachusetts safe. By supporting coordination, planning, training and critical capabilities, this funding helps local, regional and state agencies work together to prevent threats, protect communities and respond effectively when emergencies occur,” said Public Safety and Security Secretary Gina Kwon. “We’re grateful for the continued partnership of our regional councils, first responders and public safety professionals statewide.” 

 

“The projects funded through these grants represent the state’s highest security priorities, based on threat and risk assessments,” said OGR Executive Director Kevin Stanton. “We will continue to work with our state and local partners to ensure the resilience of our communities and our ability to protect the state against threats.” 

 

Each regional council represents the towns and cities within their area of the state: Central, Northeast, Metro-Boston, Southeast and Western regions.  

 

The Metro-Boston region is the only area in Massachusetts federally designated under the Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI), which reflects the region’s high population density and threat level. A portion of the funds awarded to the Metro-Boston council will go to the City of Boston Office of Emergency Management to serve as the council’s fiduciary agent.  

 

The Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) was selected through a competitive bid to serve as the fiduciary agent for the Central, Northeast, Southeast and Western councils. 

 

Critical statewide programs funded through this round of awards include support for EOPSS’ Statewide Interoperability Coordinator and the Massachusetts State Police Commonwealth Fusion Center and its Commonwealth Critical Infrastructure Program.  

 

A second round of grants will be awarded to state public safety agencies that submitted funding requests through a competitive application process, and a portion of the remaining federal grant funds will support grant management costs necessary to ensure the effective use of the public funds and compliance with federal program requirements. 

 

Grant Recipient	Award Amount
Central Regional Homeland Security Advisory Council	$834,984
Northeast Regional Homeland Security Advisory Council	$1,231,990
Southeast Regional Homeland Security Advisory Council	$1,031,643
Metro-Boston Regional Homeland Security Advisory Council/UASI	$13,471,070
Western Regional Homeland Security Advisory Council	$998,457
Massachusetts State Police	$1,100,000
Metropolitan Area Planning Committee	$215,635

 

Homeland Security Grant Program funds are allocated to states by Congress. However, FEMA reduced the amount of FFY25 funding that would be awarded to states, including Massachusetts, and added new requirements for grant recipients.  

 

In recent years, Homeland Security Grant Program funds have been used for projects that include: 

• Equipping and launching pre-hospital blood transfusion programs based in Canton, Lawrence and Mansfield;  
• Intensive swiftwater boat operator and water rescue training for the Western Massachusetts Technical Rescue Team; 
• Radio upgrades to improve first responder communication in Central Massachusetts communities; and 
• The production of a guide to interoperability best practices for schools developed by the Northeaster Regional Homeland Security Advisory Council in collaboration with EOPSS’ Statewide Interoperability Coordinator and Statewide Interoperability Executive Committee.