West Chester, Pa (October 4, 2022) – State Senator Carolyn Comitta reminded Pennsylvania nonprofit organizations that serve those with diverse memberships can apply now for up to $150,000 in state grant funding for important safety and security upgrades.
Applications are currently being accepted for the Nonprofit Security Grant Program through the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency. The program, funded with a $5 million state budget appropriation, is accepting applications until Monday, October 31, 2022, at 11:45 p.m.
“Our region is home to a strong interfaith community and we value our freedom to worship peacefully, safely, and without fear of threats, intimidation, and violence,” Comitta said. “These funds can help better protect our friends and neighbors who may be targeted by bigotry and hate.”
She also noted that last year five nonprofit organizations in her Chester County district, including two mosques and two synagogues, were awarded nearly $250,000 in state funding for important safety upgrades.
The Nonprofit Security Grant Program supports nonprofit organizations that principally serve individuals, groups or institutions that are included within a bias motivation category for single bias hate crime incidents as identified by the FBI’s Hate Crime Statistic Publication. Those hate crime incidents include race/ethnicity/ancestry; religion; sexual orientation; disability; gender; and gender identity.
Applications can be submitted online https://www.pccd.pa.gov/schoolsafety/Pages/Non-Profit-Security-Grant-Fund.aspx
Projects that are eligible for funding include:
- Planning, threat awareness, and response training.
- Equipment and technology, such as metal detectors, lighting, surveillance, communications systems, locksets, deadbolts, trauma kits, and antitheft devices.
- Specialty trained canines.
- Vulnerability and threat assessments.
- Other projects to enhance safety or security.
Grant awards range from a minimum of $5,000 to a maximum of $150,000. Non-state matching funds (fundraising dollars, federal or local government funds, etc.) are required for funding requests of over $25,000. PCCD will select awardees in consultation with the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and the Pennsylvania State Police.
The program, now in its third year, was established by the legislature in Act 83 of 2019 in response to the 2018 attack on the Jewish community at the Tree of Life, New Light, and Dor Hadash congregations in Pittsburgh. Comitta, then a state representative, voted for legislation (House Bill 859) that established the program.
In addition, Comitta reminded potential applicants that organizations eligible for PCCD’s Nonprofit Security Grant Fund Program may also be eligible to apply for security funding through the PA Department of Homeland Security/PA Emergency Management Agency (PEMA).
Information about their grant program can be found at https://www.pema.pa.gov/Grants/NSGP/Pages/default.aspx