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Attachment A Foreword: Director's Message to Grant Recipients Following on the heels ofa successful 2003 in which the California Office of Homeland Security distributed more than $226 million in federal homeland security funds to our state's first responders, we are pleased to release the FY 04 Urban Area Security Initiative grant program. Last year's UASI grant funded five urban cities in California for a total of$62 million. Recognizing that a highly populated state like California has a number of urban areas, the federal Department of Homeland Security doubled to ten the number of cities selected for this year's UASI program. Better still, the amount of total funding awarded to the ten select cities has more than doubled to $135.25 million. This increase in the cities selected and the funding provided allows the state to address the unique equipment, training, planning and exercise needs oflarge, high-threat urban areas. Similar to last year's UASI program, activities must involve coordination by the identified core city, core county, and the California Office of Homeland Security. Like last year, in an effort to ensure that each Urban Area has as much resources as possible to address the needs and priorities identified in the Urban Area assessment and strategy, the state is declining its option of retaining 20% of the funding. As was the case last year, it is expected that this 20% will be used for the benefit of the Urban Area as a whole. In addition to the funding provided to the ten Urban Areas, the FY 04 UASI program also includes more than $5 million in funding for six mass transit authorities identified by federal DHS. This funding is provided to enhance the security and improve the preparedness of these selected mass transit authorities. OHS is releasing this Grant Guide for Local Governments to fully explain the grant application and performance process. In addition to this Guide, should you need further assistance we have dedicated staff at the Office of Emergency Services who will be available to provide guidance. You can reach OES' Grant Management Section at (916) 845-8110, or send an e-mail to Grant.Management@oes.ca.gov. I look forward to working with you on this and other grants. Through our combined efforts, local first responders will be better prepared to prevent and respond to the threat of terrorism. RONALD L. IDEN Director California Office of Homeland Security FY04 Urban Areas Security Initiative Page 3