Tampa Port Authority receives federal port security grant

TAMPA, Fla. — The Tampa Port Authority is pleased to announce it is among recent recipients of funding awards by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for the fiscal year 2012 Port Security Grant Program (PSGP). Some key purposes of the PSGP are to support increased port risk management, enhance maritime awareness and fund training and exercises. Moreover, these grant funds serve to expand port recovery and resiliency capabilities and enhance prevention, detection, response, and recovery from events involving conventional and non-conventional weapons.

Nationwide there was $97,500,000 available in the grant program, from which the Tampa Bay area received an allocation of $1,094,625. The port authority received about three-fourths of the total—nearly $815,000—for a series of technology upgrades and to support initiatives that will increase security without compromising operational efficiency.

“A safe and secure port is our top priority, and this grant will help to keep us among the safest and most proactive ports in the country,” Richard Wainio, port director and chief executive, said.

The Tampa Port Authority (www.tampaport.com) administers Florida’s largest and one of the nation’s most diversified ports, handling a full array of cargoes. Also a premier cruise home port, the Port of Tampa is the largest economic engine in west and central Florida, generating nearly 100,000 jobs and billions of dollars in economic impact annually.