- Business Executives for National Security (BENS): BENS is a national, non-partisan, nonprofit organization of senior business executives applying their expertise and leadership to the national security apparatus. The organization is highly regarded for its proven record of using business skills and best practices to achieve measurable, demonstrable results.
- BENS has established a MidAmerica Business Force to address business concerns for National Security. A primary focus of the Business Force is Agricultural Biosecurity threats as a critical infrastructure component to Homeland Security issues. The MidAmerica Business Force is a unique government – academia – private sector partnership addressing homeland security issues, agricultural terrorism and natural disasters. BENS will call on relevant companies to plan and prepare responses to Homeland Security threats. The Business Force enables access to local, state and federal governments to facilitate publicprivate partnerships and information sharing.
- The MidAmerica Business Force is strongly endorsed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Senator Pat Roberts (KS) and the Governor of Missouri. The MidAmerica Business Force works with the State of Missouri and State of Kansas, and is expanding to a MidAmerica presence to include Nebraska and Iowa. The Business Force effort develops Homeland Security capabilities that are leveraged through a partnership between the public and private sectors.
Programs:
- Business Response Network: The BRN connects emergency management personnel to needed private sector resources (goods, services, equipment, volunteers) quickly and effectively during a catastrophic event. The BRN system uses a secured database available to emergency management through the internet. The Business Response Network (BRN) is an actionable database of private sector companies that would provide goods and/or services upon declaration of the Governor that a State of Emergency exists in the State.
- Agricultural Community of Practice Portal: The Business Force will develop a knowledge management centered portal that brings government-academia-private sector participants together to provide solutions to Homeland Security challenges.
- Business Preparedness and Response Committee: The Business Force has partnered with the Kansas City MidAmerica Regional Council to create a business committee to engage private sector organizations in the region’s homeland security efforts.
- Midwest Agricultural Alliance: The Business Force partnered with the University of Missouri and Kansas State University to research emerging technology and its applications for agricultural terrorism counter measures.
What’s in it for Business?
- Increased business involvement in development of solutions for homeland security.
- Business must be part of the solution, by contributing best business practices to our Nation’s security.
- Public recognition for contributions to our Nation’s Homeland Security.
- Opportunities for networking in the community and strengthening knowledge of state and local government programs.
|
