LANSING - Community-based nonprofit organizations in Wayne County will have the opportunity to upgrade security at their facilities to better protect against terrorist attacks. More than $500,000 will be available for the program in Wayne County and the City of Detroit.

"This is a tremendous opportunity for nonprofit agencies in Detroit and Wayne County to enhance terrorism preparedness without bearing the financial burden," said Capt. John Ort, Deputy State Director of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, Michigan State Police. "Nonprofits are generally visible and respected members of the community, serving many people on a daily basis. Security upgrades enable these organizations to better protect the public while carrying on with their important work."

The grants are made available for community-based nonprofit organizations in the City of Detroit and Wayne County that can demonstrate measurable physical security improvements at their facilities. At least six grants will be awarded in Michigan, with a maximum award of $100,000 per organization. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will award a total of $25 million dollars from the Urban Areas Security Initiative to selected states.

Interested organizations can get a grant application at www.michigan.gov/emd or from the City of Detroit or Wayne County emergency management offices. Applications must be submitted by June 17 to Michigan State Police, Emergency Management Division, UASI Non-Profit, 4000 Collins Road, Lansing, MI 48909.

A selection committee comprised of representatives from the City of Detroit, Wayne County, State Police, DHS, the FBI and the Federal Emergency Management Agency will evaluate the applications. For more information, contact Jay Roorbach at (517) 333-4395 or RoorbacJ@michigan.gov.