HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson today announced the availability of $35 million in competitive grants for public and not-for-profit entities that suffered losses because of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

"The healing process begins with the Department of Health and Human Services," Secretary Thompson said. "We are the department of compassion, and these grants offer a bit of compassion in this time of turmoil and trouble. They will help people and groups begin the rebuilding process." 

To be eligible, entities in New York, Connecticut, New Jersey, Virginia, Pennsylvania or Washington, D.C., must have incurred health care-related expenses or lost revenue as a result of their immediate response to the public health emergency caused by the attacks. Individual grants are expected to range between $5,000 and $1 million.

Allowable costs are those expenses incurred by an eligible applicant in the provision of health care-related services that were needed as a direct result of the terrorist acts. Examples of allowable costs are personnel costs, supplies and contractual expenses, and may include capital equipment, repair of public facilities, renovations and alterations, and other capital expenditures essential to the provision of health care-related services. Lost or foregone revenue directly attributable to the terrorist acts also will be considered an eligible cost.

Information on where applications must be sent, how they may be sent, the material they must contain, and criteria that will be used for review purposes can be found in the Oct. 9 Federal Register.  Applications must be received by 5 p.m. EDT on Oct. 19, 2001.  HRSA’s contact person for the grant program is Timothy Miller, 301-443-4268; fax: 301-443-1221; e-mail: gir@hrsa.gov.

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