WASHINGTON — The Federal Emergency Management Agency today announced the award of five training grants for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2015 Homeland Security National Training Program (HSNTP) Continuing Training Grants (CTG) totaling $11,521,000. These awards will provide additional FEMA certified training and certification for first responders, emergency managers, technical specialists, local government and community leaders, preparing them for all types of emergencies. The period of performance for the FY 2015 CTG program is 36 months. 

The FY 2015 CTG program focuses on the following four areas: Cybersecurity, Hazardous Materials, Countering Violent Extremism and Rural Preparedness. Rural Preparedness includes the following topics: school-based incidents, mass fatality planning and response, the development of emergency operation plans, rail car safety, media engagement strategies for first responders, agro-terrorism, food and animal safety and hazardous materials.

Grants were awarded to the following organizations:

• Cybersecurity: The University of Arkansas Criminal Justice Institute – $3,000,000
• Hazardous Materials: The International Association of Fire Fighters – $2,000,000
• Countering Violent Extremism: University of Maryland START Consortium – $1,319,405
• Countering Violent Extremism: Virginia Center for Policing Innovation – $1,701,595
• Rural Preparedness: The Center for Rural Development – $3,500,000

Information on the FY 2015 CTG program can be found on www.grants.gov by searching under Homeland Security Grants, CFDA #97.005.