BALTIMORE (February 22, 2007) – Non-profit, community based organizations in the Baltimore region may apply for grants to make their facilities more secure against terrorist attacks. The innovative Baltimore Region Critical Infrastructure Community Grant Program, administered jointly by the Maryland Emergency Management Agency and the Baltimore Urban Area Work Group (UAWG), will award a total of $650,000 to fund enhancements that are over and above the baseline security provided in the organization’s operating budget.

The UAWG is composed of emergency management officials from the Baltimore Metropolitan Council’s member jurisdictions, which include Baltimore City and Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Carroll, Harford and Howard counties, plus the City of Annapolis.

"There is a critical need to protect both local government and community facilities from terrorist activities," said Harford County Executive David R. Craig, the BMC Chair. "Infrastructure improvements funded by this grant program will assist local law enforcement and emergency management agencies by making potential targets less attractive to those who seek to do harm."

Eligible enhancements include such things as:

A grant-writing seminar will be held on Friday, March 9, 2007, at 1:00 p.m. at the George Howard Building, Banneker Room (1st floor), 3430 Courthouse Drive, Ellicott City, MD 21043.

Grant applications must be received by the UAWG by Friday, March 23. Grant awards will be publicly announced on Tuesday, May 1.

The grant application is available online at www.baltometro.org or by calling the homeland security official in one of the participating jurisdictions.