"This is welcomed news," said Curtis Hertel, Executive Director of the DWCPA. "We are thankful that the federal government has come to understand and appreciate the critical importance of our international port and waterway to the regional and national economy. We look forward to working with our regional homeland security counterparts to make good use of our funding."
The Detroit/Wayne County Port Authority received $1.6 million in fiscal year 2008, bringing its total funding secured from this program to well over $4.5 million since its inception after 9/11. As Fiduciary Agent, the Port Authority will assume the responsibility for marketing and organizing projects on behalf of Sector Detroit's, Area Maritime Security Committee, which is comprised of the region's homeland security directors and exports. The Port Authority will accomplish this by developing a Risk Mitigation Plan that will supplement and update existing security plans for the Port of Detroit.
"It's our goal to address homeland security vulnerabilities through this program. However we can also accomplish economic development goals by encouraging regional and national companies to help us address our needs," said John Kerr, Director of Economic Development & Grants Management for the DWCPA. "We should use this grant program as a springboard to make Southeast Michigan a hotbed for homeland security technology, similar to what NextEnergy and Automation Alley have been able to accomplish for alternative energy and advanced automotive."
