Sen. Costa, Rep. Frankel: $1.5 million in security grants awarded to local nonprofits at risk of being targeted

Grants stem from legislation lawmakers championed in 2019

PITTSBURGH, March 10 – As they continue their efforts to strengthen Pennsylvania’s anti-hate crime laws, expand civil rights in the commonwealth and protect at-risk groups, state Rep. Dan Frankel and state Sen. Jay Costa today are recognizing the awarding of more than $1.5 million in state security grants to local nonprofits.

“Hate crimes have plagued our nation, our state and close to home in the 2018 shooting at a synagogue in Squirrel Hill,” Costa said. “Hate in all its forms is wrong and dangerous and I'm very honored to have worked with Representative Frankel to establish this grant program across the state, and particularly pleased to see $1.5 million coming to Allegheny County for these important programs today.”

The grants were made possible by Act 83 of 2019, legislation championed by both lawmakers in the wake of the Squirrel Hill synagogue attack in 2018. This is the second-year grants from the program have been disbursed.

“The people of Pittsburgh should be able to socialize, worship and build community without worrying for their safety,” Frankel said. “These grants help give our friends and neighbors a sense of security while we fight to strengthen this state’s antiquated laws relating to crimes targeting vulnerable groups.”

Grant recipients can use the funds for security enhancements designed to protect the safety of the users of the facility that is owned and operated by the nonprofit organization. These include safety and security planning, purchase of security equipment, safety and security training, and other safety-related projects.

Priority for funding was given to organizations that indicated their organization and/or membership was the victim of a hate crime, that received credible hate-crime threats, or that serves a population susceptible to hate crimes, which includes people of certain race/ethnicity/ancestry, religion, sexual orientation, disability, gender and gender identity.

The $1.5 million awarded to nonprofits in Allegheny County is part of $5 million awarded to nonprofit organizations across the state. For a full list of grant recipients, follow this link.