×

Area projects receive funding

HARRISBURG — Two projects in Huntingdon and Centre countries are among those funded by the Wolf administration’s $7.5 million to state municipalities, counties, institutions of higher education and community organizations to reduce or prevent community violence.

A news release from the office of the governor said that the School Safety and Security Committee within the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency is opening a competitive solicitation for more grant applications designed to reduce or prevent community violence.

“We must continue to address violence of all types in Pennsylvania communities, and these grants can help do that by funding programs targeted to communities’ specific needs,” Gov. Tom Wolf said in the release. “Continuing to fund community violence prevention programs expands our goal of a safer Pennsylvania for everyone.”

In the first two years of the community violence program, the SSSC has awarded nearly $15 million in grants, approving 54 applications supporting projects in 27 counties, according to the release. This year, prioritization will go to applications that “intend to use evidence-based or evidenced informed programs” to reduce or prevent community-based violence in areas identified with high-violent crime rates.

According to Wolf’s office, two grants were recently awarded to support local projects in Huntingdon and Centre counties.

Evolution Expression, based in Blair County, had requested up to $296,268 to implement a program “allowing the Huntingdon Area School District to access immediate help for at-risk populations who struggle to succeed.”

The Centre County Youth Service Bureau has asked for up to $298,835 to reduce violence and improve safety in the country through efforts including mentoring youth who are at risk for experiencing trauma, and linking students and their families to crisis and mental health services.

The funding guidelines for 2020-21 estimate the allocation for the Central Region, which includes Bedford, Blair, Cambria, Centre and Huntingdon counties for 2020-21 to be more than $1.7 million. However, the estimate says actual allocation will depend on “the quality of applications submitted.”

The release states that funding supports projects from neighborhood-based violence interventions to dating violence prevention to youth mentoring. Maximum grant awards are $300,000, and project periods can be up to two years.

“While addressing community violence in all its various forms is necessary and important,” SSSC and PCCD Chairman Charles Ramsey said, “the immediate priority is to address gun, gang and interpersonal violence, and we strongly encourage applicants to answer that call.”

According to the United Health Foundation, a not-for-profit foundation of UnitedHealth Group, Pennsylvania ranked 22nd in lowest rates of violent crimes in 2019. The state has had a consistent decline in violent offenses per 100,000 people since 2007. The Foundation sourced data from the U.S. Department of Justice and Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The funding announcement can be found at www.pccdegrants.pa.gov/Egrants/Public/Open Announcements.aspx. The application deadline is Nov. 10. Awards are expected to be announced in January.

For more information about the SSSC, including information on school safety assessment criteria, an online registry of individuals qualified to perform those assessments and a Model Trauma-Informed Approach Plan can be found on PCCD’s School Safety and Security webpage. Information on what constitutes an “evidence-based” program can be found in the grant’s funding guidelines for 2020-21.

Starting at $2.99/week.

Subscribe Today