Innamorato: $1 million in state funding to aid local religious institutions
Safety grants mark new program established by law in 2019
Rep. Sara Innamorato March 11, 2020 | 1:51 PM
PITTSBURGH, March 11 – Today state Rep. Sara Innamorato, D-Allegheny, announced that 25 religious institutions and civic organizations in Allegheny County were selected to receive more than $1 million in state funding for safety and security.
“These grants mark the first round of a funding from a new program that I was proud to support last year,” Innamorato said. “Our houses of worship — regardless of faith -- should remain safe spaces for our neighbors to find joy, inspiration, and connection to one another. I’m committed to working with our community partners to bolster safety and build community for all.”
Locally, the grants included $17,500 for the First Methodist Church of Pittsburgh. A full list of grant recipients in Allegheny County can be followed by following this link.
Funded by the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency, the individual grants will help churches, temples, synagogues and other institutions protect themselves. In January of this year, PCCD released a $5 million solicitation for the grant program. More than 800 total applications requesting approximately $27 million were submitted and reviewed.
The grants can be used for safety and security planning, purchasing safety equipment or technology, training and threat assessments, or other safety-related projects.
More information about Act 83 and the program can be found here: https://www.pccd.pa.gov/schoolsafety/Pages/Non-Profit-Security-Grant-Fund.aspx