Gómez Underscores Importance of State Investment in Nonprofit Security
Senator Adam Gómez (D-Springfield) today highlighted the nearly $5 million awarded to 167 nonprofit organizations across Massachusetts to improve security in order to protect their families, members, and staff from hate crimes and extremist violence. The awards were distributed through two state-funded grant programs: the Commonwealth Nonprofit Security Grant Program (CNSGP) and the Commonwealth Nonprofit Security Personnel Grant Program (CNSPGP). Both programs are administered by the Office of Grants and Research (OGR), which will assist each of the nonprofits with the management of their grant.
“Nonprofits and faith-based organizations play a vital role in supporting families and strengthening our communities, and they deserve to operate without fear of violence or intimidation,” said Senator Adam Gómez. “These grants will help organizations in Springfield and across the Commonwealth take meaningful steps to protect their staff, members, and facilities. At a time when many communities face rising threats and hate incidents, investing in safety ensures that people can gather, worship, and access services with confidence.”
A record number of organizations sought funds through this year’s grant programs, with 274 eligible applications received for CNSGP and 53 for CNSPGP. In a report issued in December, the Massachusetts Legislature’s Special Commission on Combatting Antisemitism highlighted the impact of the CNSGP and CNSPGP on Jewish organizations facing hate incidents. The Commission stated that the grant program “have a meaningful impact for vulnerable community’s sense of safety and ability to gather freely.”
Local Impact in Springfield:
First Baptist Church ($30,000)
Martin Luther King, Jr., Community Presbyterian Church ($16, 050)
Mt. Zion Baptist Church of Greater Springfield ($10, 138)
Pope Francis Preparatory School, Inc. ($36, 626)
Sinai Temple Endowment Trust ($30, 511)
Springfield Jewish Community Center ($40,000)