The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced $25.5 million in grant funding under the Border Interoperability Demonstration Project (BIDP) for localities to strengthen interoperable emergency communications along the U.S. borders with Canada and Mexico. “These BIDP grants provide our state, local and tribal partners with resources to explore innovative, effective and adaptable solutions for improving emergency communications,” says DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano. Funding can be used for equipment purchases, planning, training and conducting exercises. The demonstration projects selected represent varying geographic regions and population densities in order to explore innovative approaches that can serve as models for other border communities. The localities, their grant funding and project description follows: City of Yuma, Ariz., $4 million for the Full Voice and Data Integration Demonstration; San Diego Fire and Rescue, $3.9 million for the Regional Command and Control Communications Tactical Border Communications; Washington County, Me., $4 million for the Enhanced Communications Infrastructure and Partnerships for Border Security; Wayne County, Mich., $4 million for the Southeast Michigan Border Interoperability Solution; Montana, $3.9 million for the Northern Tier Consortium Border Interoperability Demonstration; Lake County, Ohio, $4 million for the Multi-Agency, Multi- Jurisdictional U.S. Regional & International Interoperable Communications Infrastructure and Maritime Domain Awareness; and McAllen, Texas, $1.9 million for the Rio Grande Valley Border Interoperability Regional Project.