HARRISBURG, PA — Governor Tom Wolf recently announced more than $5.23 million in funding awards to 120 churches, synagogues, mosques, temples, and other nonprofit organizations which serve diverse communities, and often face bias and hate crimes, to improve their facilities’ security and protect from hate crimes.
Organizations from Chester County include:
- Islamic Society of Greater Valley Forge, $45,757
- Coatesville Center for Community Health, $24,430
- Masjid Al Rahman of Chester County Inc, $100,000
- Congregation B’nai Jacob Phoenixville PA, $24,980
- Kesher Israel Congregation, $40,000
“This is an investment in the safety and security of the diverse communities that are the tapestry of Pennsylvania,” said Gov. Wolf. “It’s unfortunate that hate continues to surface here, hurting Pennsylvanians and tearing apart our communities. I will continue to stand with and support these communities in any way I can.”
The Nonprofit Security Grant Fund Program, administered by the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD), was established to provide grants to nonprofit organizations who 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 Statistics publication. The categories include race/ethnicity/ancestry, religion, sexual orientation, disability, gender, and gender identity.
In January, Gov. Wolf announced an addition $4.5 million being allocated to the program from Pennsylvania’s American Rescue Plan Act dollars.
The awardees were eligible to apply for grant awards ranging from $5,000 to $150,000 for security enhancements designed to protect the safety and security of their membership. 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.
PCCD has issued two previous Nonprofit Security Grant Fund Program solicitations in 2020 and 2021. A total of $5 million in funding was awarded to each cohort for a total of 243 awards announced. Collectively, these funds have impacted more than one million people who are associated with these organizations.
More information about PCCD’s Nonprofit Security Grant Fund Program and the application process can be found on PCCD’s website.
For the latest news on everything happening in Chester County and the surrounding area, be sure to follow MyChesCo on Google News.