Community Safety Grants are now available to colleges, municipalities and community groups.

According to Senator-elect Judy Ward, community groups, colleges and municipalities can apply for these grants to help boost safety and reduce the risk of violence.

The grants are part of a new program included in this year’s budget to improve school safety and fight community violence. $7.5 million will be awarded statewide during the fiscal year through June 30 to support community violence prevention programs, and an additional $52.5 million in grants will be awarded to school districts to improve school safety through the fiscal year.

“Reducing the risks of violence against young people is a community-wide effort that cannot be restricted to just the classroom,” said Ward. “The grants awarded through this program will help build stronger partnerships in the community with the goal of creating a safer environment for children.”

The grants can be used for mentoring services and other intervention services for at-risk children and families, encouraging communication between school entities and law enforcement, linking the community with local trauma support and behavioral health systems, and other programs working to reduce community violence.

Applications are being accepted until February 7, 2019.

Applications and more information about the grants are available on the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency’s website at www.pccd.pa.gov under the School Safety and Security heading.