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“Houses of worship have been attacked with gun violence. There
have been bomb threats to a variety of institutions,” state Rep.
Bob Morgan, D-Deerfield, told The Center Square. “The volume and
increasing commonality of hate crimes and hate attacks requires
taking steps to keep people safe.”
The Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Illinois Terrorism
Task Force has announced a $20 million taxpayer funded Illinois
grant program to help nonprofits in the state beef up security
measures. A number of at-risk Illinois nonprofit organizations
have wanted to increase security for years now, but they have
not had the resources, Morgan said.
“This funding will provide both physical security measures and
staffing security,” he said.
The fiscal year 2023 Illinois Not-for-Profit Security Grant
Program received bipartisan support in the legislature, Morgan
said.
“This funding will help prevent terror before it strikes,” Gov.
J.B. Pritzker said in an announcement for the grant program.
Eligible 501(c)(3) organizations located in Illinois that are at
high risk of a terrorist attack are encouraged to apply for
competitive grants of up to $150,000 per location. Funds must be
used for “target hardening” activities such as installing
bulletproof glass, security doors, tremor alarms for windows,
security lighting and cameras. Funding can also be used for
training, staffing and management.
Better security measures for at risk communities will make
people safer but the core of the problem is hate, Morgan said.
“Security measures don’t do anything to reduce the incidence of
hate,” he said. “We absolutely have to continue to look at the
core of how we can ratchet down hate.”
Information and a sample application are available on the IEMA
website where the Notice of Funding Opportunity can be
downloaded.
Applicants are required to register and pre-qualify per the
Grants Accountability and Transparency Act.
For assistance and questions, email iema.grants@illinois.gov or
call IEMA’s Chief Accountability Officer Myong-Ae Kim at
217-785-9890.
The deadline for applications is 5 p.m. on Jan. 16, 2023.
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