Governor Perdue Announces Port Security Funding

Georgia Ports Authority Receives $1.695 Million in Federal Funding to Protect Georgia's Ports from Terrorism

Atlanta - Governor Sonny Perdue today thanked President Bush and U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge for awarding $1.695 million in Port Security Grants to the Georgia Ports Authority (GPA). In recent visits to Washington, D.C., Governor Perdue met with Secretary Ridge, U.S. Senators Zell Miller and Saxby Chambliss, and U.S. Representatives Jack Kingston and Max Burns to request additional security funding for Georgia's ports.

"I want to thank President Bush, Secretary Ridge, and our excellent delegation in Washington for these homeland security funds that will help protect Georgia's coast from acts of terrorism and provide further security enhancements for our ports," said Governor Sonny Perdue. "We must continue to work with our leadership in Washington to ensure that the citizens of Georgia are protected from all forms of terrorism."

More than eighty percent of the funding, or $1.4 million, will provide funding for an Access Control Security Management System at the Ports of Savannah and Brunswick. This program will enable the GPA to make the best use of its physical and operational security resources, focusing on credentialing, intrusion detection, and video surveillance. The funds are part of a $179,025,900 program being made available from the federal FY04 budget from the Transportation Security Administration, an agency of the Department of Homeland Security. The program is designed to improve dockside and perimeter security which is vital to securing our critical national seaports.

"We are very fortunate to have Congressional members that have a hands on approach to improving security at our ports," said Doug J. Marchand, Executive Director of the Georgia Ports Authority. "Our delegation members and their staff have personally been to our ports to see our operations, our security enhancements, and the tremendous growth that is fueling Georgia's economy."

Funding for Georgia includes:

• $1,395,000 for Access Control Security Management in Savannah and Brunswick
• $67,500 for Handheld Explosive Detection Devices in Savannah and Brunswick
• $103,000 for Security Surveillance Cameras, Brunswick
• $129,500 for Pedestrian Access Control, Savannah