Local organizations receive state security grants
14 area Jewish institutions awarded funds to bolster safety
Gov. Tom Wolf announced just over $3.9 million in funding to support security enhancement projects for 93 nonprofits, including several Jewish institutions in Pittsburgh and surrounding areas.
“While it’s a shame this has been necessary, I’m proud to have secured nearly $20 million over the past three years to protect Pennsylvania’s diverse and vulnerable communities from hate-driven violence,” Wolf said in a prepared statement. “I look forward to the day when the goodness of humanity prevails.”
Wolf signed House Bill 859 to create the Nonprofit Security Grant Program in November 2019, one year after the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting.
Administered by the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency, the program supports grants to nonprofits that principally serve individuals, groups or institutions included within “a bias motivation category for single bias hate crime incidents,” as identified by the FBI’s Hate Crime Statistics publication, such as race/ethnicity/ancestry, religion, sexual orientation, disability, gender and gender identity.
Applicants were eligible to apply for grant awards ranging from $5,000 to $150,000 for security enhancements. Funding can be used for safety and security planning, safety and security equipment and technology, training, building upgrades, vulnerability and threat assessments, and other security enhancements.
Local organizations receiving grants include:
Adat Shalom B’nai Israel/Beth Jacob Inc., $25,000
Ahavath Achim Congregation, $20,000
Chabad House on Campus, Inc., $25,000
Chabad of Squirrel Hill, $150,000
Community Day School, $25,000
Jewish Family and Community Services, $24,683
Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh, $67,820
Temple Emanuel of South Hills, $42,481
The Friendship Circle of Pittsburgh, Inc, $150,000
The Jewish Spark, $75,000
Tzohar Arts, $25,000
Yeshivath Achei Tmimim of Pittsburgh, $25,000
Congregation B’nai Abraham, $25,000
Congregation Emanu-El Israel, $25,000
PCCD plans to release another Nonprofit Security Grant Fund Program solicitation in January. More information about PCCD’s Nonprofit Security Grant Fund Program and the application process can be found on PCCD’s website. PJC
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