07.06.16

Hoeven Announces DHS Anti-terrorism Grant Opportunities for Local Communities, Higher Ed Institutions and Private Organizations

WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven, who chairs the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Appropriations Committee, today announced that DHS will issue a Notice of Funding Opportunity announcing the new Countering Violent Extremism Grant Program. The FY16 funding dedicated to this effort is $10 million, as part of a total $50 million effort to counter complex, coordinated terrorist attacks and violent extremism.

“These grants are designed to support community-led initiatives across the country and enhance the nation’s ability to prevent and mitigate threats posed by violent extremism,” Hoeven said.

The new grant program represents the first competitive grant program made available to local communities, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and institutions of higher education to counter violent extremism (CVE). Eligible parties will have 60 days to prepare and submit an application for federal funding to sort local CVE efforts. The Notice of Funding Opportunity for the CVE program will be available at www.grants.gov.

The new CVE grant program will support the efforts of state, local and tribal partners and community groups—religious groups, mental health and social service providers, educators and other NGOs—to build prevention programs that address the root causes of violent extremism and deter individuals who may already be radicalizing to violence.

In December, 2015, Congress passed DHS Appropriations Act of 2016, which provides $50 million for “countering violent extremism initiative to help states and local communities prepare for, prevent and respond to emergent threats from violent extremism.”

Congress directed that all CVE initiatives be provided on a competitive basis directly to states, local governments, tribal governments, nonprofit organizations, or institutions of higher education. Examples of eligible activities for the CVE initiatives include “planning, developing, implementing, or expanding educational outreach, community engagement, social service programs, training, and exercises, as well as other activities as determined appropriate.”

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