ERIE, PA – The Shapiro-Davis Administration is boosting 46 afterschool programs – including the Erie Police Athletic League – to help keep kids safe and provide enrichment opportunities through the new “Building Opportunity through Out-of-School” (BOOST) initiative.
The Shapiro-Davis Administration is awarding more than $11 million in grants to expand afterschool programming across the state – in cities like Pittsburgh and Erie, as well as more rural communities like Clarion and Butler counties,” said Lt. Gov. Austin Davis. “We’ve provided funding to add nearly 1,500 new law enforcement officers in our communities in just two years, but it takes more than just police to make our communities safer. We need mental health resources, good schools, workforce development and afterschool programs like the Erie Police Athletic League, so we can address the root causes of gun violence.
Lt. Gov. Davis visited Erie today to highlight the BOOST program and his work as chair of the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD), which has provided about $13 million, over the past two years, to improve community safety in Erie County.
I am incredibly proud of the work being done in Erie to support our youth and ensure the safety and well-being of our community,” said state Sen. Dan Laughlin. “These grants demonstrate the power of collaboration between law enforcement, schools, community organizations and local leaders to address challenges and build a stronger foundation for the future.
Last week PCCD approved the BOOST grant awards, as well as $45 million in Violence Intervention and Prevention (VIP) grants. The city of Erie is also receiving a $950,000 VIP grant to support the police department’s juvenile unit and crisis car.
Since the Shapiro-Davis Administration took office in January 2023, the Administration has been laser-focused on reducing the epidemic of gun violence across Pennsylvania. Governor Shapiro and Lt. Gov. Davis have secured millions in state funding to make our communities safer, including:
- Awarding $85 million in violence intervention and prevention funding for 131 VIP and Coordinated Community Violence Intervention (CCVI) strategies grant projects;
- Re-establishing Pennsylvania’s Office of Gun Violence Prevention, after Gov. Josh Shapiro signed Executive Order 24-02 last September;
- Delivering $4 million in federal Community Violence Intervention and Prevention Initiative (CVIPI) Grant funds to expand hospital-based violence intervention programs (HVIPs) statewide;
- Providing more than 800 technical assistance sessions to 135 community-based violence prevention groups receiving PCCD grant funding through the PA Peace Alliance.
