- Office of Grants and Research
Media Contact for Baker-Polito Administration Awards $1.6 Million in Federal Funds to Protect Faith-Based Organizations
Boston — Today, Governor Charlie Baker and Lt. Governor Karyn Polito announced more than $1.6 million grant funds to strengthen public safety in faith-based organizations. Each grant supports target hardening and other physical security enhancements at sites determined to be at high risk of a terrorist attack.
“Non-profit organizations, particularly those of faith, provide important community space, education, social services and healthcare to cities and towns in the Commonwealth,” said Governor Baker. “At a time when threats fueled by hate continue to mount, these grants will strengthen public safety and renew our resiliency going forward.”
The Office of Grants and Research (OGR) within the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security (EOPSS) manages the grant process and awards funds through the Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP). OGR serves as the State Administering Agency for this funding received from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
“Our administration’s approach to security and emergency management must continue to strengthen preparedness in non-profit organizations,” said Lt. Governor Polito. “OGR’s thoughtful management of this competitive NSGP grant process will deliver critical resources to communities that need it most.”
“The administration continually seeks opportunities to maximize federal resources through OGR to sustain and increase public safety,” said Public Safety and Security Secretary Thomas Turco. “Safeguarding our places of worship against senseless acts of terrorism remains an important priority for our EOPSS agencies.”
“These grants will help mitigate potential risks facing a diverse group of faith organizations,” said Undersecretary for Homeland Security Jeanne Benincasa Thorpe. “As partnerships at the municipal, state, and federal levels continue to flourish, OGR and all our EOPSS agencies remain committed to engaging community leaders and working together to safeguard against the threat of violence.”
“Each organization presented a thoughtful plan within an extremely competitive process, said OGR Executive Director Kevin Stanton. “These community leaders should be commended for the time they dedicate to understand the threats and create a preparedness plan that incorporates guidance from public safety professionals within our communities.”
| Awardee | Award Amount |
| Center for Jewish Life Arlington-Belmont (CJLAB) | $100,000 |
| Chabad Lubavitch Inc. | $100,000 |
| Chabad Lubavitch Torah Center Inc. a.k.a Chabad Center of Sharon | $100,000 |
| Congregation Beth Israel Anshei Litte | $87,000 |
| Eastern States Exposition | $99,410 |
| Jewish Community Center of Greater Boston | $97,314 |
| Merrimack Valley Lubavitch Inc. | $100,000 |
| Or Atid Conservative Jewish Association | $72,590 |
| Rashi School, INC. | $100,000 |
| Shaloh House Chabad of the South Area | $100,000 |
| Shirat Hayam of the North Shore | $96,395 |
| Temple Israel of Natick | $100,000 |
| The Sephardic Congregation of Newton, Inc. (SCN) | $100,000 |
| Young Israel of Sharon, Inc. | $100,000 |
| Cathedral Church of St. Paul | $18,998 |
| Temple Beth Zion | $100,000 |
| The Vilna Shul, Boston Center for Jewish Culture | $89,303 |
| Torah Academy Inc. | $100,000 |
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