Press Release
For Immediate Release
October 6, 2005
Contact: Kim Cook
(972) 906-7441
www.iaam.org
IAAM Foundation Receives Grant from DHS to Strengthen Preparedness Training
Coppell, TX—The International Association of Assembly Managers Foundation was awarded $750,000 by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to strengthen educational opportunities for emergency preparedness training for public assembly facility managers. DHS announced a total of $30 million in Competitive Training Grants, with funding to fifteen organizations for training initiatives that further the Department's all hazards mission of preparing the nation to prevent, deter, respond to, and recover from incidents of terrorism and natural disasters.
The IAAM Foundation will use the funds to strengthen new and existing programs, such as the Academy for Venue Safety & Security. The funds will also be utilized to raise awareness and train venue managers to use the Vulnerability Self-Assessment Tool (ViSAT), developed by the DHS using the IAAM Best Practices for Safety and Security. The tool is designed to assess and strengthen current emergency plans within public assembly facilities.
"This grant will allow IAAM's Life Safety Council to continue pursuing its primary focus of educating venue managers on safety and security measures. As an association of venue managers, we strive to make a difference in our communities by providing the safest facilities possible. DHS recognition of this goal by way of the grant is important for IAAM to continue as the acknowledged leader in venue management," said David Ross, CFE, IAAM President.
All recipients completed a rigorous application process for this grant - competing with 267 applicants from a broad spectrum of entities including: national associations, institutions of higher education, private corporations working in conjunction with the non-profit sector and nonprofit organizations. The fifteen recipients of these highly competitive grants represent a prestigious group of subject matter experts from across the United States.
“These training programs will raise substantially the ability of our first responders, public officials and citizens to meet the challenges we face as a Nation to prevent, respond and recover from terrorist events and natural disasters,” said Matt A. Mayer, Acting Executive Director of the Office of State and Local Government Coordination and Preparedness.
The International Association of Assembly Managers is the world's largest professional association dedicated to issues relevant to the management of public assembly facilities. Members of the association manage public assembly facilities such as amphitheaters, arenas, auditoriums, convention centers/exhibit halls, performing arts venues, stadiums and university complexes; or provide products, services or attractions to support the industry. IAAM has more than 3,200 members worldwide. More information is available at www.iaam.org.
The IAAM Foundation was established in 1982, as a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization and has granted more than $1,700,000 for a variety of educational programs, professional development efforts and research projects for public assembly facility management professionals. The mission of the Foundation is to fund:
1) Educational programs and services for the public assembly facility management industry, educators, business, government and the general public. 2) To encourage the development and implementation of educational courses and programs that will meet the desires of the public assembly facility industry. 3) To encourage the development and use of technical and managerial information in the profession. 4) To conduct research to identify trends and issues that influence the direction of the profession.
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