Municipalities in New York will be able to receive $9 million in federal funding to boost public safety and preparedness, Gov. Kathy Hochul on Thursday announced.
The money will be allocated to bomb squads, hazardous materials teams, canine teams and tactical teams. The money will also go toward urban search and rescue teams, Hochul's office said.
"New York's homeland security capabilities will be greatly strengthened thanks to this partnership with the Department of Homeland Security and the $9 million in grants announced today," Hochul said. "My number one commitment is to keep New Yorkers safe, and with these funds in place, New York will be better prepared to respond to any security threat that may come."
All told, 77 cities, towns, villages and counties are eligible for grant programs, Hochul said.
The program includes funding for New York's 12 FBI-accredited bomb squads to help them locate and prevent potential emergencies. At the same time, money is going toward teams to manage hazardous materials as well as critical infrastructure grant programs.
"New York's first responders face a diverse array of challenges every day and it's critical we ensure they have the resources necessary for addressing them," said Homeland Security Commissioner Jackie Bray. "This funding plays an important role in that effort by helping connect local law enforcement and emergency personnel from across the state with the equipment and training they need to keep our communities safe, no matter the threat."