HARRISBURG – Senator Wayne Langerholc Jr. (R-35) is encouraging local municipalities, colleges and community groups to apply for grants to boost safety and reduce the risk of violence.
The grants will be offered as part of a new program that was included in this year’s state budget to improve school safety and combat community violence.
A total of $7.5 million will be awarded statewide during this fiscal year through June 30 to support community violence prevention programs.
Applications will be accepted until Feb. 7, 2019.
“Our efforts to protect young people cannot be restricted only to what happens in school. We have to involve the entire community,” said Langerholc, who serves on the School Safety and Security Committee.
“The grants awarded through this program will help build stronger partnerships in the community with the goal of creating a safer environment for children both inside and outside of the classroom.”
Eligible uses for the grants include mentoring services and other intervention services for at-risk children and families; promoting communication between school entities and law enforcement; linking the community with local trauma support and behavioral health systems; and other programs designed to reduce community violence.
An additional $52.5 million in grants will be awarded to school districts to improve school safety throughout this fiscal year. The first round of these school safety grants was announced in October.
Applications and more information about the grants are available on the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency’s Web site at www.pccd.pa.gov under the School Safety and Security heading or https://www.pccdegrants.pa.gov/Egrants/Public/OpenAnnouncements.aspx under 2019 Community Violence Prevention/Reduction announcement.