JEWISHcolorado, its Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC), and more than 100 coalition partners applauded the signing June 7 of HB22-1077 by Gov. Jared Polis, creating a state nonprofit security grant program for qualified nonprofit organizations at high risk of a terrorist attack.
State Reps. Dafna Michaelson Jenet and Iman Jodeh, and Senators Kevin Priola and Chris Hansen were the bill’s sponsors.
Gov. Jared Polis signs HB22-1077. Looking on are, l-r, JEWISHcolorado president and CEO Rabbi Jay Strear, State Rep. Dafna Michael- son Jenet, State Senators Kevin Priola and Chris Hansen.
The program will operate within the Colorado Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (DHSEM) and will further enhance the physical security of Colorado’s faith-based and charitable organizations. JEWISHcolorado and the JCRC amassed a coalition of more than 100 organizations that backed the bill.
JCRC chair Matt Most thanked the sponsors and coalition members for coming together in a bipartisan and broad community effort to gain passage of the legislation.
“Threats towards non-profit institutions have only increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, targeting all faiths. Unfortunately, we are living in a time of widespread threat to minorities, houses of worship and nonprofits. We have seen time and again the loss of life – most recently in Buffalo, NY — from hateful, racist, white supremacist, and anti-Semitic acts. This effort sends a clear message that Coloradans will stand together to protect and raise up our statewide community and all peoples.”
The legislation allows for nonprofit organizations to apply for funding to pay for security upgrades on their buildings, preparedness exercises, training, planning, and contracting with security personnel. Demand for these funds has skyrocketed after the Tree of Life Synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh (2018) and the Christchurch New Zealand Mosque shooting (2019). In 2020, the annual federal budget for the program was $90 million. However, despite the increased threats from extremist activity, federal NSGP funding to Colorado declined significantly.
Grant projects must be feasible and effective at reducing the risks for which the projects were designed and cannot be used for inherently religious activities. The initial budget for the Colorado NSGP is $500,000, with a maximum award amount of $50,000 per organization.
Eleven other states have created programs to supplement the federal program, augmenting the security of even more organizations in their states.
“Programs like this are more important than ever to ensure that all Coloradans are safe while participating in community events or in their places of worship,” said JEWISHcolorado President and CEO Rabbi Jay Strear.
DHSEM will closely track the federal program and will assess applications. Upon FEMA’s award notifications, Colorado DHSEM will notify those organizations who did not receive federal funding that will be eligible to receive state funding.
