Rep. Tom Latham, R-Iowa, will be focusing on homeland security, with a priority on the grant process for local governments, at his annual community conference Thursday at the Scheman Building.

“A primary goal of the challenge of strong homeland security is that every community in America is properly prepared for natural and human-generated disasters,” said James Carstensen, communications director for Latham. “These federal funds will go a long way towards achieving that goal.”

The conference topic is determined annually by the local elected officials and the federal and state experts who attend. This year, Carstensen said, Latham received multiple conference requests regarding both preparedness and the new grant process.

Ray Dearin, professor of political science, said homeland security is something everyone should be concerned about, Iowans included.

“First of all, Iowans do a lot of travel,” Dearin said. “But any time when you have large crowds, like the Iowa State-Iowa football game, it’s a potential target.”

Federal grants are now available for local emergency responders, Carstensen said, and the conference will emphasize how to obtain funding using this process. Dearin said this is an effort from members of Congress to ensure they are meeting the needs of the public.

“In this case, the fact is that the public is willing to spend more money on terrorism so the funding will be there,” Dearin said.

Those interested in attending can expect information from a wide range of sources, but can also learn how our government is working together under the new Department of Homeland Security.

“The participants will be provided with important information and new contacts with officials in the federal government, [and] also a chance to network with colleagues from other Iowa communities that are facing some of the same challenges,” Carstensen said. “Participants will be learning the most up-to-date information on homeland security and the homeland security granting process by many of the same people in the federal government that are heading that department and grant process.”

Notable attendees for the conference include Undersecretary of Homeland Security for Emergency Preparedness and Response Mike Brown and Latham himself.

Also scheduled to appear is a senior staff member from the Office of Homeland Security’s grants department, as well as a representative from the Federal Emergency Management Administration, according to a list supplied by Latham’s office.

Further information is available via Latham’s District Office in Ames at 232-2885. Attendance is open to all residents of Iowa’s Fourth Congressional District.