WASHINGTON—Rep. Rick Larsen, WA-02, today announced a successful effort to protect federal grants for six marine communities in Snohomish, Skagit, Island and San Juan counties. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grants will fund security and safety upgrades at ports in the region. The grants were rescinded in October 2012, but Larsen helped the communities obtain extensions for the funds to be used this year.

“Our ports are vital economic and recreational assets that Northwest Washington businesses and residents depend on every day,” Larsen said. “These grants will help the ports invest in security and safety that will translate directly into economic benefits in our communities.”

As a member of the House Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee, Larsen regularly visits Northwest ports. He recently visited the Port of South Whidbey where he pledged to help secure the FEMA funding.

The details of the grants are as follows:

Island County

Port of South Whidbey: $1,000,000 for the marina expansion project, port security surveillance equipment, and the purchase of a fire boat and police boat

San Juan County

Port of Friday Harbor: $11,000 for surveillance equipment

Skagit County

Port of Anacortes: $475,000 for surveillance equipment, security vehicles and security lighting

Skagit County Sheriff’s Office: $468,400 for interoperability and intelligence analysis software

Snohomish County

Everett Police Department: $429,000 for police boat with firefighting capability

Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office: $83,500 for enhanced navigational aids for sheriff boats