MOBILE- The Alabama Department of Homeland Security (ALDHS) announced today grant awards to public and private sector port security partners in Mobile and Baldwin Counties.

The awards, totaling $1,000,000, were acquired through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Port Security Grant Program, which focuses on infrastructure protection activities at the nation’s ports.

This program is one of a comprehensive set of security measures to strengthen the nation’s critical infrastructure against risks associated with potential terrorist attacks.

The Port of Mobile is the ninth largest port in the United States.

These federal grants will be used to support increased port-wide risk management, enhance domain awareness, conduct training and exercises, expand port recovery and resiliency capabilities; and improve Alabama’s capacity to prevent, respond to, and recover from attacks involving improvised explosive devices (IED’s) and other non-conventional weapons.

“These grant awards will provide our critical infrastructure partners the tools necessary to protect the Port of Mobile and enhance the capability of neutralizing potential threats,” said Director Spencer Collier. “The face of terrorism changes every day, so we must remain vigilant.”

More information about individual grant programs is available online at www.dhs.gov .