Maryland’s federal legislators secured more than $10 million for enhanced security measures that will be used by religious and nonprofit organizations throughout the state.
The $10,691,398 in federal funds was obtained through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Nonprofit Security Grant Program to bolster security at institutions at high risk for terrorist attacks.
Recipients included several synagogues and Jewish communal entities in Washington’s Maryland suburbs.
According to the Maryland Department of Emergency Management, which oversees the program locally, more than $8.7 million in federal homeland security grants were awarded this year to 68 nonprofit organizations in the state.
“This funding provides much-needed financial support to nonprofit groups, which are part of the fabric of American life,” said Russ Strickland of the Maryland Department of Emergency Management. “In a time of increasing threats to members of faith-based communities, houses of worship and schools across the United States, these grants provide the funding to secure public spaces where Marylanders gather every day and will help prevent or minimize the consequences of any possible attack.”
“Religious liberty is a fundamental freedom protected by our Constitution, but the concerning rise of hate-fueled attacks against religious communities threatens that liberty both here in Maryland and across the country,” said U.S. Sens. Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin, and Reps. Steny Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Kweisi Mfume, Anthony Brown, Jamie Raskin and David Trone in a joint statement.
“We fought for these investments so our faith-based organizations can ensure the protection and security of their members. Team Maryland will continue working with our faith organizations to secure more resources so all Marylanders can be free to worship as they choose without fear,” said the Maryland Democrats.
“The JCRC expresses its gratitude to our senators and the Maryland delegation for insuring the Maryland Jewish community and other nonprofit organizations will have the necessary funds to protect our facilities against attacks and ensure we can provide a same and warming environment,” said Ron Halber, executive director of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington.
These funds often are used to purchase security cameras, pay for security personnel at events and train synagogue and other organization members about security at their site.
Federal funding for the Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP) has steadily increased in recent years — from $60 million in 2019 to $180 million in 2021 — but the annual need for grants has exceeded available funds. While funding for 2022 reached $250 million, grant requests totaled more than $447 million, according to an SCN press release.
Faygie Holt contributed to this article.
Award recipients in Maryland
• Agudath Israel of Baltimore $150,000
• Bais Yaakov School for Girls $150,000
• Yaakov School for Girls $150,000
• Baltimore Hebrew Congregation $150,000
• Beth Am In-Town Synagogue $150,000
• Beth Tfiloh $150,000
• B’nai Israel Congregation of Baltimore $150,000
• Bnos Yisroel of Baltimore $150,000
• Chabad Israel Center of Baltimore $150,000
• Chabad Lubavitch of Hunt Valley $150,000
• Chabad of Towson $150,000
• Cheder Chabad, Inc. $150,000
• Chizuk Amuno Congregation $150,000
• Congregation Beit Yaakov $150,000
• Congregation Shomrei Emunah, Inc. $150,000
• Congregation Kol Shalom $150,000
• Darchei Noam Montessori $150,000
• Edward Myerberg Senior Center $150,000
• Har Sinai – Ohem Shalom Congregation $150,000
• Mesivta Kesser Torah of Baltimore $150,000
• Ner Israel Rabbinical College $150,000
• Ohr Chadash Congregation $150,000
• Owings Mills Synagogue, Inc. $150,000
• St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church $150,000
• Star-K Certification, Inc. $150,000
• Talmudical Academy of Baltimore $150,000
• Temple Beth Sholom of Anne Arundel County $150,000
• Yeshivas Lubavitch of Baltimore $150,000
• Yeshivas Toras Simcha $150,000
• Gethsemane United Methodist Church $150,000
• Islamic Center of Maryland $150,000
• Jewish Community Center of Prince Georges County $150,000
• Kemp Mill Synagogue $150,000
• Magen David Sephardic Congregation $150,000
• Seven Locks Jewish Community $150,000
• Temple Beth Ami $150,000
• Temple Emanuel $150,000
• Beth Sholom Congregation $150,000
• Calvary Assembly of God, Inc. $150,000
• Islamic Society of Frederick, Inc $150,000
• Mother Seton School, Inc. $150,000
• Shoresh, Inc $150,000
• The Banner School $150,000
• TidalHealth Peninsula Regional $150,000
• Williamsport Church of God $150,000
• Jewish Community Center of Greater Baltimore $149,985
• Jewish Community Center of Greater Baltimore $149,974
• St. Paul Church $148,943
• Islamic Community Center of Laurel $148,000
• Bishop Walsh School $147,366
• Islamic Society of Baltimore $147,257
• St. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church $147,097
• St. Isaac Jogues Catholic Church $141,227
• St. Agnes Catholic School $139,971
• Resurrection St. Paul School $139,560
• Prince George’s Muslim Association $139,450
• Mt. Olive Methodist Church $136,000
• Atlantic General Hospital $134,843
• Sacred Monastery of Saint Nina, Inc. $130,000
• Jewish Rockville Outreach Center $128,400
• Chesapeake Church $128,099
• Bender Jewish Community Center of Greater Washington $125,343
• St. Michael-St. Clement School Willow $120,886
• Institute for Islamic, Christian and Jewish Studies $110,577
• Pikesville Jewish Congregation $109,200
• Grace Bible Baptist Church $107,575
• The Jewels School $105,000
• Temple Bat Yam $98,995
• St. John Regional Catholic School $95,000
• Carolina Missionary Baptist Church $93,200
• B’nai Israel Congregation Cemetery $89,550
• Trinity Assembly of God $80,928
• Suburban Orthodox Congregation Toras Chaim $75,000
• Temple B’nai Israel $75,000
• Bolton St. Synagogue $74,731
• St. Agnes Catholic Congregation $68,717
• Ohr Hatorah, Inc. $61,530
• Temple Shalom $60,570
• Covenant Family Chapel $32,000
• Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics $30,517
• Redeeming Grace Baptist Church $26,907
• Jewish Federation of Greater Washington $25,000
• Faith Christian Fellowship Church $19,000
