Miller: More than $230K award to multiple synagogues, church for safety and security enhancements

HARRISBURG, March 11 – Two synagogues and a church in the 42nd Legislative District were awarded a combined total of $236,436 in state funding to use toward security and safety at their facilities, announced state Rep. Dan Miller.

Miller, D-Allegheny, said the three entities were awarded the funds by the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency at its quarterly commission meeting today. Beth El Congregation/United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism received $90,000; Temple Emanuel of South Hills was awarded $74,800; and Mt. Lebanon United Presbyterian Church received $71,636.

“I am very pleased to announce these safety grants for these venerable institutions, which make up a big part of our community fabric. While it is unfortunate that these grants are necessary at all, we cannot ignore the times we live in and the challenges we face. There are no more welcoming spaces in our districts than our places of worship, and we must work together to keep it that way.”

Miller said the grants are provided through PCCD’s Nonprofit Security Grant Fund Program following the passage of Act 83 of 2019. The act directs PCCD to administer grants to nonprofit organizations who have been or who are likely to be targets for hate crimes. Priority consideration for funding was given to organizations that indicated they – or their membership – were victims of a hate crime or had a credible hate-crime threat.

PCCD is the state’s lead agency for criminal justice policy issues, providing support services to law enforcement agencies, victims of crime and communities. More information about PCCD can be found here: www.pccd.pa.gov.