Monroe County to receive $1.1 million in anti-terror funds

Monroe County has been awarded more than $1 million to help first responders and county officials better prepare for, respond to and recover from potential acts of terrorism. Assemblyman Bill Reilich, 134th District, said the funds were awarded from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

The City of Rochester will also receive $500,000 in State Urban Area Supplemental Program (SUASP) funds to help pay for urban area-based homeland security projects.

According to Reilich, Monroe County will receive $1.1 million in DHS grants: $750,000 from the State Homeland Security Program and $350,000 from the Law Enforcement Terrorism Prevention Program.

Reilich noted the state officials are maximizing the resources available through the DHS grants by distributing the funds pursuant to a threat-based approach developed by the state Office of Homeland Security. The threat-based formula includes factors such as population, urban areas, state and national icons or symbols, risk assessments and critical infrastructure.

SUASP is a new state initiative that is designed to support urban area-based homeland security programs that are coordinated by their respective county security initiatives and consistent with the state's threat-based strategy. Rochester and two other cities in the state are sharing $3.75 million under the first-year program.

For information call Reilich at his district office at 2300 W. Ridge Road, Rochester 14626 or by calling 585-225-4190.