Bizzarro announces $25K public safety grant
State funds awarded to Erie’s Temple Anshe Hesed
Rep. Ryan Bizzarro April 5, 2023 | 3:54 PM
ERIE, April 5 – Temple Anshe Hesed Reform Congregation in Erie has been awarded $25,000 as part of the state’s efforts to improve public safety for nonprofit and religious organizations, state Rep. Ryan Bizzarro announced.
“Religious freedom has been a bedrock in Pennsylvania, dating back to before the creation of our nation,” Bizzarro said. “The roots of representative government, a willingness to embrace diversity and religious tolerance in Pennsylvania can be traced all the way back to founder William Penn. So it’s rewarding to see this money headed back to our region to ensure religious freedom is preserved and an emphasis is placed on improving public safety – in order to protect residents from misguided individuals, threats and potential hate crimes.”
Administered by the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency, the Nonprofit Security Grant Fund Program supports grants to nonprofit organizations that principally serve individuals, groups or institutions that are members identified as at risk 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 to protect the safety and security of their membership. Funding can be used for safety and security planning and technology, training, building upgrades, vulnerability and threat assessments and other physical security enhancements.
Today’s announcement continues Bizzarro’s efforts to allocate state money to properly fund schools, nonprofits, first responders and local businesses in his district and Erie County. So far this year, Bizzarro has helped secure nearly $8.4 million in state funding for Erie County projects – including $7.3 million in March.