Grant Details

The UASI Program assists high-threat, high-density Urban Areas in efforts to build and sustain the capabilities necessary to prevent, protect against, mitigate, respond to, and recover from acts of terrorism.

The UASI program is intended to provide financial assistance to address the unique multi-discipline planning, organization, equipment, training, and exercise needs of high-threat, high-density Urban Areas, and to assist these areas in building and sustaining capabilities to prevent, protect against, mitigate, respond to, and recover from threats or acts of terrorism using the Whole Community approach.

Activities implemented with UASI funds must support terrorism preparedness by building or enhancing capabilities that relate to the prevention of, protection from, mitigation of, response to or recovery from terrorism in order to be considered eligible. However, many capabilities which support terrorism preparedness simultaneously support preparedness for other hazards. Grantees must demonstrate the dual-use quality for any activities implemented that are not explicitly focused on terrorism preparedness. Urban Areas must use UASI funds to employ regional approaches to overall preparedness and are encouraged to adopt regional response structures whenever appropriate.

In developing applications for UASI, recipients are encouraged to consider national areas identified for improvement including: (1) Projects that address emerging threats, including cybersecurity; and (2) Projects that enable continuous operation of critical business and government functions – including those essential to human health, safety, and/or economic security.

Funding will be prioritized to support projects that address the following:

• Enhancing the protection of soft targets/crowded places;
• Enhancing information and intelligence sharing and cooperation with federal agencies, including DHS;
• Combating domestic violent extremism;
• Enhancing election security; and
• Enhancing community preparedness and resilience

Starting in 2024, if you have local cybersecurity needs you are encouraged to apply for the State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program (SLCGP). More information can be found here: https://azdohs.gov/cyber

In Arizona, UASI funds are administered by the Arizona Department of Homeland Security (AZDOHS). This agency is responsible for managing the financial and reporting aspects of the grant programs in accordance with established federal guidelines and allocating funds to local, regional, and other state government agencies.