POTTSTOWN, PA — Lt. Gov. Austin Davis used a roundtable discussion Monday in Montgomery County to highlight Pennsylvania’s continued investment in violence prevention and after-school programs, as the Shapiro-Davis administration points to declining violent crime and expanded grant funding to support community-based organizations.
The event, held at the YWCA Tri-County Area, focused on the 2026-27 state budget’s investments in violence intervention, youth programming and public safety. Davis met with local education, nonprofit and public safety leaders to discuss how the funding is being used to reduce crime and expand opportunities for young people.
According to the administration, the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency has awarded more than $1 billion through approximately 6,700 grants since 2023. State officials attribute those investments to a 16% decline in violent crime statewide during that period.
The YWCA Tri-County Area recently received a $500,000 Violence Intervention and Prevention grant to establish a youth-led violence prevention program for middle school students. The organization also secured Substance Abuse Education and Demand Reduction funding this year to launch early childhood and family wellness programs.
“I’m proud to say I was a Club Kid, spending most afternoons at our local Boys & Girls Club, so I understand how important it is for young people to have safe places they can go to learn and grow,” Davis stated. He added that the administration’s strategy combines support for law enforcement, community-based prevention efforts, victim services and initiatives addressing the causes of violence.
Kelly Grosser, chief executive officer of the YWCA Tri-County Area, described the funding as an opportunity to expand prevention-focused programming for children, families and caregivers across Montgomery, Chester and Berks counties.
The discussion also included representatives from the Pottstown School District, The STRIVE Initiative, ACLAMO, the Resilience Resource Center, Trellis for Tomorrow and Laurel House.
Since 2023, the commission has awarded more than $57 million in grants across Montgomery County, including more than $6.8 million for 16 Violence Intervention and Prevention and Building Opportunities through Out-of-School Time projects. State Rep. Joe Ciresi, D-Montgomery, pointed to a 30% decline in serious crime in Pottstown Borough over the past decade and credited collaboration among community organizations and public investment.
The 2026-27 budget includes more than $50 million for the Violence Intervention and Prevention program, $11.5 million for the BOOST initiative, $16.2 million to train four additional Pennsylvania State Police cadet classes, more than $100 million in school safety and mental health funding for K-12 schools, $10 million to improve security at nonprofit and faith-based organizations, $7.5 million for public defender services, $2.5 million for a new homicide clearance grant program and $4.5 million for the Victims Compensation Assistance Program. The spending plan also increases funding for rape crisis centers by $12 million.
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