When it comes to homeland-security funds, some officials would like to see more spent at home in Kansas.

“We want to keep our rural and small companies viable,” said state Sen. Jay Emler, R-Lindsborg.

Since 9-11, Kansas emergency responders — law enforcement, fire, ambulance, health — have received millions of dollars from the federal government to purchase equipment.

But when they go shopping, most of that money is paid to out-of-state manufacturers and suppliers, according to Fisher Scientific Corp., the New Hampshire-based company that handles emergency-preparedness purchasing for the state and all local jurisdictions.

Steve Smith, a senior vice president with Fisher, recently told the Kansas House-Senate Security Committee that emergency responders in Kansas would spend $15 million in federal funds this year on equipment, and less than one-third — $4.2 million — would be used to buy equipment from Kansas companies.

But Smith pointed out that Kansas businesses would sell more than $25 million annually nationwide to emergency responders.

Lawmakers, who had earlier heard from some small businesses upset with Fisher, said they were glad to hear that Kansas businesses sell more than emergency responders in Kansas buy.

“Overall, it appears the state is benefiting from the contract,” said Emler, who is chairman of the security committee.

One of those companies benefiting from the federal grants through the sale of emergency equipment is Lawrence’s Brown Cargo Van, 807 E. 29th St.

The 56-year-old business builds truck bodies and trailers, but in the past few years it has branched out into building mobile command centers, vehicles that can be used at disaster scenes as a staging area for emergency personnel.

From left, lead man Les Green and welders Eric Long and Terry Vawter work on the construction of a 34-foot motor coach unit at Brown Cargo Van, 807 E. 29th St. Brown Cargo Van is reaping the benefit of federal Homeland Security money and is busy building mobile command centers for jurisdictions in the state.

“We’re developing it even further,” said Brad House, systems manager at Brown Cargo.

The company has sold units to Douglas County, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, Kansas Highway Patrol, Wichita Police Department and the state of Missouri. It has 12 units under construction now, he said.

Paula Phillips, Douglas County’s emergency management director, said the county spent $237,000 for a mobile command center from Brown Cargo.

Phillips said the county told Fisher Scientific that it specifically wanted to trade with Brown Cargo instead of buying from an out-of-state company because it would be easier dealing with a local company if problems arose with the equipment.

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Phillips said Fisher Scientific had been willing to try to get purchases from Kansas companies.

“We’ve had a good experience,” she said.

Under Fisher’s contract, it provides a one-stop shop for governmental entities to purchase emergency equipment. All purchases are reviewed by the Kansas Highway Patrol.

KHP Capt. Mark Bruce said the state had depended on Fisher’s process and logistical support to handle the “skyrocketing” increase in federal grant funds for emergency preparation.

An outside view of a mobile command center being built by Brown Cargo Van is pictured in the background. The Lawrence company is one Kansas business paid to build equipment for emergency responders.

The contract with Fisher was competitively bid. The state pays no administrative costs.

Fisher, which handles purchasing for 13 other states, receives its profits through the sale of items, much like a regular department store.

A federal audit released in June recognized Kansas for “best practices” for its system of allocating grant funds.