Mayors and Governors from across the country met separately this past month in Washington DC to discuss their concerns in this time of “new realities and challenges.”  Part of their message was directed at the federal government.  “As your first line of defense against domestic terrorism,” they cried, “don’t make us bear the costs alone!”  While Congress and the President may create new funding programs  to address these costs, state and local leaders must take advantage of existing programs to meet their needs. 

     Where can they go to find information on these programs?  The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance at http://www.cfda.gov is a  comprehensive source.  The CFDA contains 1,458 programs, administered by 63 federal agencies.  The site is very user friendly, and even  includes several aids to guide you through the proposal writing process.  While the mayors and governors will find this site helpful, it’s not for local and state officials only.  The assistance programs in the database are for public, not-for profit, and private organizations, as well as
  individuals.  Programs include everything from grants and loans to insurance, advisory services and counseling, and training. 

     For those interested in emergency management related assistance, browse the catalog By Type of Assistance, Functional Area, and then Disaster Prevention and Relief.  The sub-sections include Emergency Preparedness, Civil Relief; Flood Prevention and Control; Emergency Health Services; and Disaster Relief.  Because of the terrorist attacks, the staff at CFDA created a special database of assistance programs  relating specifically to response and recovery.   Highlights from this list of 44 programs include: 

          First Responder Counter-Terrorism Training Assistance 
          Surveillance of Hazardous Substance Emergency Events 
          Hazard Mitigation Grant 
          Public Safety Officers’ Educational Assistance. 
          Economic Injury Disaster Loans 
          Small Business Loans 
          Emergency Federal Law Enforcement Assistance 
          State and Local Domestic Preparedness Technical Assistance, Exercise Support, TrainingPrograms, and Support Programs (all of which deal specifically with protection against weapons of mass destruction)