Homeland Security department announced over $11 million in grants for Nevada

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recently announced over $11.1 million in grants under three different programs for the state of Nevada in Fiscal Year (FY) 2017.

“Ensuring our state has what it needs to thwart potential terror attacks and protect our tourism economy is critical, and that’s why I welcome Homeland Security’s announcement,” Sen. Dean Heller (R-NV) said.

DHS awarded $2,837,000 to the Las Vegas area as part of the Urban Area Security Initiative, $3,752,000 to Nevada as part of the State Homeland Security Program and $4,513,618 to Nevada as part of the Emergency Management Performance Grant Program.

“This funding will go a long way for Nevada, especially in light of threats made by ISIS to target the Las Vegas Strip,” Heller said. “Nothing is more important than the safety and well-being of Nevadans. By training and preparing for the worst, our law enforcement and first-responders will be able to swiftly respond and react in the event that disaster strikes.”

Heller wrote to Homeland Security Secretary John F. Kelly earlier this summer, urging DHS to restructure its Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) grant program and reconsider the risk profile of the Las Vegas area.