Summary

The City of Gulf Shores received a $790,208 Project Grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) under the Port Security Grant Program (CFDA 97.056), awarded on September 1, 2025, with a performance period extending through August 31, 2028. This grant funds maritime security and emergency preparedness enhancements for the coastal municipality, enabling the procurement of security-related equipment, maritime communications systems, surveillance infrastructure, and cybersecurity upgrades designed to protect critical port facilities and coastline assets from terrorism and disasters. Additionally, the funding supports personnel hiring for maritime security operations, maritime security training and emergency preparedness exercises, and operational improvements to maritime assets and port facilities.

This award represents the City of Gulf Shores' second successive Port Security Grant Program award from FEMA, following an initial $329,100 grant in September 2023. Combined, these two awards total $1,119,308 in federal funding directed toward strengthening the city's capacity to safeguard critical coastal transportation infrastructure. The Port Security Grant Program, administered by FEMA, allocates approximately $90 million annually across roughly 200 awards nationwide to state, local, and private sector maritime partners for similar security enhancement initiatives.