Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich, County Council President Andrew Friedson, councilmembers and local leaders will announce the awarding of $900,000 in grants Wednesday morning.
The grants, awarded through the County’s Nonprofit Security Grants program, are designated for local nonprofit or faith-based organizations located in Montgomery County whose facilities are at high risk of experiencing hate crimes.
The announcement starts at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, March 13, at the Executive Office Building Auditorium, located at 101 Monroe Street in Rockville.
The County announced its commitment to protecting eligible organizations in a press release dated Oct. 11, 2023.
“Montgomery County is proud to be one of the most culturally diverse communities in the country. We celebrate inclusion and are committed to supporting our neighbors of every religion, race and ethnicity,” said County Executive Marc Elrich in an Oct. 11 press release. “However, individuals and organizations within our community continue to face threats of harm motivated by hate. These grants will provide nonprofit and religious organizations with additional funding to enhance the security of their facilities and promote safety within the communities they serve. This investment is an affirmation of Montgomery County’s support for our diverse population, and I encourage all applicable Montgomery County organizations to apply for these grants.”
The grant will help fund security personnel, security planning, training or exercise measures or new security cameras.
“We have heard repeated requests from congregants and faith leaders of all backgrounds for increased funding to support security needs. This $900,000 commitment is a reflection of our promise to put real dollars behind our efforts to protect residents from acts of hate and violence, at a time when we are experiencing an alarming rise of bias-related incidents,” said County Council President Evan Glass in an Oct. 11 press release. “This grant funding will help provide resources to nonprofit and religious organizations facing such heightened threats. We must continue to promote safety and security and address hate-related crime so all of our residents and visitors feel welcome in our community.”
