Governor Cuomo recently announced that the $10 million Securing Communities Against Hate Crimes (SCAHC) grant program is now accepting applications to help protect New York’s non-public schools, day care centers, non-profit cultural museums, cultural centers, and religious-based institutions, against hate crimes. Applications will only be accepted for new projects to harden an organization’s facility or facilities through physical security enhancements and or security training to advance personnel’s knowledge of security risks.
Following the deadliest assault on the Jewish community in US History, Governor Cuomo said,
Hate crimes have no place in New York, and this funding will help those who are targeted due to their ideology, beliefs, or mission to take additional steps to increase the security of their facilities and keep our communities safe.”
When the 25 million program was first announced in October of 2017, its first round provided $14.8 million in grant funding statewide to help strengthen security measures and prevent hate crimes or attacks against these types of organizations. Applications will be accepted for up to $50,000 per location, and an organization can apply for up to 3 locations, up to a maximum request allowed per organization of $150,000.
Per the grant’s frequently asked questions section, funding can be used to cover the acquisition and installation of security equipment on real property/existing facilities owned or leased by the nonprofit organization, specifically in the prevention of and/or protection against hate crimes.
Allowable equipment consists of, but is not limited to:
- Perimeter lighting;
- Door hardening;
- Alarm systems;
- Camera-based security systems;
- Access control systems;
- Perimeter fencing; barriers; bollards;
- Blast resistant film for windows/shatter-resistant glass.
In order to qualify, an organization must be prequalified, through the New York State Grants Gateway prior to application submission.
The deadline to apply is 5:00 pm December 19, 2018, through the E-Grants System here.
For Governor Cuomo’s full press release, please here.
Edward McWilliams, CPA
Partner
Ed is a Partner in the firm’s tax and business advisory practice focusing on providing services to middle market private companies across different industries as well as to early stage startups. Ed has over a decade of experience providing tax and business consulting services to these companies of different sizes and across different industries, bringing a broad and diverse knowledge base and strategic solutions to the many complex issues that businesses face.
