Harrisburg, PA — Lt. Gov. Austin Davis visited the LGBT Center of Central Pennsylvania today to highlight $10 million in grants that have been awarded to more than 200 nonprofit organizations – including the LGBT Center – to enhance the safety and security of their facilities.
“Every Pennsylvanian should have the freedom to love who they love, pray how they want to pray and be their authentic selves – free from threats of violence and harassment,” said Davis, who also serves as chair of the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD). “That’s why the Shapiro-Davis Administration advocated for an increase in funding for nonprofit security grants in this year’s bipartisan state budget. By doubling this grant program, we’ve been able to fund more than 200 organizations in 31 counties, including more than 100 organizations that had never received a grant before, so they can keep their facilities safe and secure and protect the communities they serve.”
PCCD administers the Nonprofit Security Grant Fund Program, which has provided $25 million in funding to more than 580 organizations since its inception. On top of that, this latest, seventh round of grants will go to 208 nonprofit organizations, including 102 organizations that had never before received funding through this program.
“Every Pennsylvanian deserves the right to feel safe where they live, work, play and worship,” said state Rep. Patty Kim. “This funding will go to proven measures that deter violence and help foster a community that continues to stand up to hate. I applaud the administration for protecting people in harm’s way, and I look forward to supporting this life-saving program in future budgets.”
Eligible entities under this solicitation included faith-based institutions (e.g., churches, synagogues, mosques), community centers, and other nonprofit organizations and facilities who principally serve individuals, groups or institutions that are included within a bias motivation category for single bias hate crime incidents, as identified by the FBI’s Hate Crime Statistics publication.
More information about the 208 selected applicants, county served and award amounts can be found on the PCCD website.
"As a marginalized community, often targeted by hate, LGBTQ+ people across Central Pennsylvania can find a safe haven at the LGBT Center,” said LGBT Center of Central PA Executive Director Amber Roadcap. “We are so thankful to have received the nonprofit security grant. The funding received will allow the LGBT Center to continue to serve the Central Pennsylvania LGBTQ+ community for years to come as a safe and affirming space for advocacy, resources, and supportive programming. We are thrilled to use this funding to continue to build thriving community."
The 2024-25 Shapiro-Davis state budget makes significant investments to improve community safety in Pennsylvania through various additional programs at PCCD. That includes doubling the state’s investment in the Nonprofit Security Grant Fund, securing $5 million to support Pennsylvania’s Victims Compensation Assistance Program, a $5 million increase – $45 million in total – for the Violence Intervention and Prevention (VIP) Grants program, and $11.5 million to create a first-ever statewide Building Opportunity through Out of School Time (BOOST) program to reduce community violence by providing more afterschool opportunities for youth.
Photos/video available at PACast.com.