Ridge to announce grants, Homeland Security chief set to visit city next week

WASHINGTON - Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge has pickedCharleston as the site for his announcement of $2.2 billion in grantsto first responders nationwide.

Ridge will visit Charleston Monday, touring the state's emergencyoperations center and meeting with local law enforcement andemergency services workers before announcing the grants in a 10:30a.m. press conference at the Capitol.

He also will witness a demonstration of equipment bought withearlier homeland security grant funds, Rachel Sunbarger, aspokeswoman for the Department of Homeland Security, said.

"The secretary recognizes that these funds don't stay inWashington, but go out into the local communities," Sunbarger said."He wants to get out and meet and talk to first responders."

The grant funding, from the Office of Domestic Preparedness, ismeant to "enhance the abilities of the first responders to prevent,respond and recover from potential acts of terrorism."

The amount of West Virginia's individual award has not beenreleased.

Ridge will meet with state officials, likely Military Affairs andPublic Safety Secretary Joe Martin, and tour the emergency responsecenter with Rep. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va.

Sens. Robert Byrd and Jay Rockefeller, both D-W.Va., also wereinvited to Monday's announcement. Rockefeller has other priorcommitments in the state, while Byrd has to remain in Washington todeal with the $87 billion supplemental spending bill for Iraq,spokesmen said.

State officials were not immediately available for comment.

Capito is excited for Ridge's visit, spokesman R.C. Hammond said.

"Congresswoman Capito has been working with local and stateofficials to obtain equipment and improve communications betweenfederal and state officials," he said.

Hammond said Capito also welcomed the opportunity to bring upongoing concerns, such as sufficient funding for first responderneeds.

Ridge's tour of state facilities, set for 10 a.m., will be closedto the media. The 10.30 a.m. press conference at the Capitol will beopen to press.

Writer Karin Fischer can be reached at (202) 662-8732 or by e-mail at kfischer@dailymail.com.