News Releases for December 2004
December 15, 2004
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Hoeven: Smart Border Security Initiative Moving Forward
GRAND FORKS, N.D. - Gov. John Hoeven today joined Sen. Kent Conrad for a public briefing on the status of the North Dakota Smart Border Community Pilot Project. The State of North Dakota has submitted a $37.5 million, high-tech border security grant proposal to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) requesting that the pilot to be based in North Dakota.
The grant application was submitted pursuant to a memorandum of understanding between the Governor, the North Dakota National Guard, Division of Emergency Management, Commerce Department, North Dakota State University Research Park, the University of North Dakota, University of North Dakota’s Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences, Computer Sciences Corp., Mandaree Enterprise Corp. and the Economic Development Corp. of Grand Forks.
“Senator Conrad has gotten authorizing language into the new federal intelligence bill,” Hoeven said. “We hope that will help secure congressional funding for a pilot project in North Dakota. We’ve already submitted an application to the Department of Homeland Security for funding they have on hand. Hopefully, through one or both of these avenues, we’ll be able to proceed with the project, which will provide critically important security for the nation, as well as economic opportunities for our state.
In a related move, DEM Director and Homeland Security Coordinator Doug Friez met recently in Minneapolis with Department of Homeland Security Under Secretary Asa Hutchinson, as well as David Aguilar, Chief of the United States Border Patrol, to discuss the project and secure support for the state’s grant application. The detailed security plan, designed by the North Dakota DEM was rolled out jointly last May in Grand Forks by the Governor and Sen. Conrad.
The high-tech northern border project was formally initiated in December 2001, when Hoeven asked then Homeland Security Advisor Tom Ridge to support the concept. Subsequently, Hoeven’s office worked closely with DEM, the private sector, the U.S. Justice Department, Border Patrol, Immigration and Naturalization Service, Customs Service and the Canadian government, as well as leaders from NDSU and UND, to design the high-tech border project now under review.
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