Grant Opportunity for 2017 Nonprofit Urban Areas Security Initiative

Non-profit organizations that are at a high risk of terrorist attacks in Chicago and Cook County are eligible to apply for national security grants through a competitive grant program recently announced by the Grants Program Directorate/Federal Emergency Management Agency, U.S. Department of Homeland Security.  

The Chicago Urban Area, to include the City of Chicago Office of Emergency Management and Communications (OEMC) and Cook County Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (DHSEM), encourage eligible applicants to apply for funding for security enhancements for nonprofit entities that are at high risk of terrorist attacks and located within the UASI-eligible urban areas. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security provides a total of $25,000,000 nationally to eligible 501(C) (3) organizations who are deemed at high risk of a potential terrorist attack. Eligible 501 (c) (3) organizations located in the Chicago Urban Area of Cook County and the City of Chicago may apply for funding up to $75,000.

“We encourage our nonprofit partners to utilize these opportunities to enhance their efforts to ensure a safe environment for their employees and their communities,” said Alicia Tate-Nadeau, executive director of OEMC.

“This is a good opportunity for nonprofits in our Urban Area to apply for funds that will help secure vulnerable facilities,” said Mark Edingburg, interim executive director of DHSEM.

The FY 2017 Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP) allocates funds based on risk analysis, effectiveness and integration with broader state and local preparedness efforts. NSGP funds focus on target-hardening activities. These funds may be used to purchase or install security equipment on property owned or leased by the nonprofit organization, specifically to prevent against the risk of a terrorist attack.

The Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA), as the State Administrative Agency (SAA), will administer grants awarded to applicants in the Chicago Urban Area by the Grants Program Directorate/FEMA. The grant period is 36 months.

The NSGP guidance, application information and application materials are available at: https://www.illinois.gov/iema/ITTF/Pages/UASI-Grant.aspx

Completed applications from eligible nonprofit organizations must be submitted no later than Noon CDT on Friday June 16, 2017. Applications must be submitted electronically via email to ittf.grants@illinois.gov. The subject line of the email should be: FY 2017 NSGP IL_CHICAGO_Name of your Organization