New York City – Reminder Nonprofit Security Grant Program Applications Due February 20th in New York

New York City – Synagogues, yeshivas and other organizations can apply for federal grants to support for target hardening activities to nonprofit organizations that are at high risk of terrorist attack.

Funding is available for security hardware, such as cameras, alarms, door/window upgrades and blast mitigation. Grants can also cover approved security and emergency planning training. Applications from New York State organizations must be submitted online on February 20, 2009. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security will notify the states about the winning applications on or before September 30, 2009.

A total of $15 million will be distributed nationwide.The maximum grant is $75,000. Grants provide a 3:1 federal match (i.e., if your organization proposes a $60,000 program you will provide $15,000 of the total while the government will pay $45,000). Only tax-exempt organizations eligible for IRS 501(c)(3) status may apply for the grants. Most nonprofits, including houses of worship and parochial schools are eligible to apply.

To be eligible, New York nonprofits must be located in New York City or in Westchester, Nassau, Suffolk, Erie Niagara, Albany, Schenectady, Rensselaer, Monroe or Onondaga Counties. Unfortunately, nonprofits in Orange, Putnam, Rockland or any county in New York not listed above may not apply.
The grant application and supporting information is available at: http://www.security.state.ny.us/Grant-Guidance/grantee_forms_NFP.htm. The Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) has a wealth of helpful information available at: http://www.jcrcny.org/securitygrants.

The JCRC has security alerts and guidance available at: http://www.jcrcny.org/security. Jewish organizations can sign up to be on the security alert list at: http://jcrcny.org/html/jcrc_list_form.php

A coalition of groups led by the Washington office of United Jewish Communities —- including JCRC, UJA-Federation of New York and Agudath Israel — secured $15 million to continue the Nonprofit Security Grant program this year. This funding would not be available without Senators Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) and Arlen Specter (R-PA), the Senate Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Robert Byrd (D-WV) and Ranking Republican Thad Cochran (R-MS), Representatives Nita Lowey (D-NY) and Jose Serrano (D-NY), and House Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman David Price (D-NC) and Ranking Republican Harold Rogers (R-KY). Their efforts made a significant difference in a difficult budget year.