Last year, Secretary Johnson and the DHS Office
for Community Partnerships identified the need to make direct awards to
non-governmental organizations for community-based countering violent extremism
(CVE) programs. Congress has also been supportive of this effort by
appropriating $10 million specifically to support local CVE efforts.
Today, DHS announced the FY 2016 CVE grant
program. For the first time, non-governmental organizations will be eligible
for DHS funding to promote community resilience against the threat of violent
extremism.
The DHS Office for Community Partnerships is
working closely with the Federal Emergency Management Agency to ensure funding
is awarded to community-based programs that draw from a range of local
partners—for example, educators, social service and mental health providers,
faith leaders and public safety officials.
The notice of funding opportunity and application
process is now open. For more information on how to apply please go here:
www.dhs.gov/cvegrants.
Thank you.
THE DEPARTMENT OF
HOMELAND SECURITY ANNOUNCES THE COUNTERING VIOLENT EXTREMISM GRANT PROGRAM
WASHINGTON—On Wednesday, July 6, 2016, Secretary
of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson announced the Fiscal Year (FY) 2016 Countering
Violent Extremism (CVE) Grant Program, with $10 million in available funds.
This is the first federal assistance program devoted exclusively to providing
local communities with the resources to counter violent extremism in the
homeland.
“As I have said before, given the nature of the
evolving terrorist threat, building bridges to local communities is as
important as any of our other homeland security missions,” said Secretary
Johnson. “This new grant program is an important step forward in these efforts
and reflects the Department’s continued commitment to protect the homeland and
uphold our values.”
In addition to state, local and tribal
governments, non-profit organizations and institutions of higher education are
eligible to apply. These grants will help scale community-led initiatives
across the country to address the evolving terrorist threat, including
international and domestic terrorism. Specifically, funding will support
training, community engagements, and activities that challenge violent
extremist narratives used to recruit and radicalize individuals to violence.
The Department’s efforts to partner with local
communities are a central part of its CVE mission. These grants will empower
local communities to provide resources to friends, families and peers who may
know someone on the path toward violent extremism, encouraging community-based
solutions to deter an individual well before criminal or terrorist action,
which would require the attention of law enforcement.
This grant program was developed by the DHS Office
for Community Partnerships in conjunction with the Federal Emergency Management
Agency. The Office for Community Partnerships builds relationships with local
communities and leads the Department’s CVE mission, focusing efforts to find
innovative ways to discourage violent extremism and undercut terrorist
narratives.
For more information on
the FY16 CVE Grant Program, visit www.dhs.gov
and www.grants.gov.
