The State Homeland Security Program (SHSP) is a core assistance program that provides funding to support the implementation of risk-driven, capabilities-based State Homeland Security Strategies to address capability targets.
The goal of SHSP is to support statewide and state, local, tribal, and territorial (SLTT) governments in building, enhancing, and sustaining the capabilities needed to prevent, prepare for, protect against, and respond to acts of terrorism. SHSP funding is intended to help SLTT agencies address capability gaps identified through the THIRA/SPR process, as well as prioritize resources toward high-impact security focus areas, known as NPAs.
In developing applications for SHSP, recipients are encouraged to consider 2025 priority areas:
- Enhancing the protection of soft targets and crowded places (This includes faith-based organizations and election sites) - No minimum percent
- Supporting Homeland Security Task Forces and fusion centers - No minimum percent
- Enhancing and integrating cybersecurity resiliency - No minimum percent
- Enhancing election security - At least 3%
- Border Crisis Response and Enforcement Support
Massachusetts allocates SHSP monies for initiatives proposed by the five homeland security regional councils. Regional initiatives must address known resource gaps throughout the region and the Commonwealth. This approach better prepares us, and the nation, in the event of a national, state, or local emergency. Funded initiatives help communities and the Commonwealth determine:
• What we need to prepare for?
• What shareable resources are needed to be prepared?
• What can we do to avoid, divert, lessen, or end a threat or hazard?
Additionally, Massachusetts allocates SHSP funds to the State-Share Grant Program. State-Share grants are awarded via a competitive funding process. Funded projects address the Commonwealth's homeland security priorities and strategic gaps.