Peoria Standard

In a Nov. 9 Facebook post, Sen. Jason Barickman (R-Bloomington) announced the 2023 Not-for-Profit Security Grant Program has opened for applications.

“The Illinois Emergency Management Agency has announced its 2023 Not-for-Profit Security Grant Program,” he wrote on Facebook. “The State of Illinois will award up to $150,000,000 for security upgrades to eligible 501(c)(3) organizations in Illinois who are deemed at high-risk of a terrorist attack. The deadline to apply is January 16, 2023.”

The funding can be used for physical and cyber security for non-profits.

In his Facebook post, Barickman shared a link to the Illinois Not-for-Profit Security Grant Program. The program is meant to help Illinois nonprofit organizations that are "deemed at high-risk of a terrorist attack by a terrorist organization, network or cell. NSGP-IL seeks to integrate the preparedness activities of not-for-profit organizations with broader state and local preparedness efforts."

Homeland Security Grants noted the 2023 Not-for-Profit Security Grant can’t be used to hire public safety staff or for overtime.

The program is available through the Illinois Emergency Management Agency, and the Illinois Terrorism Task Force. Grant awards may be up to $150,000 per site for agencies with a single site. Organizations with multiple sites are allowed to request grants up to $150,000 for up to 3 sites. Some of the qualifying criteria include: State verification that the not-for-profit organization is a 503(c)(3) is located within Illinois; The location of the project, as identified by the applicant during the application process, shall be in the State of Illinois and shall remain located in the State for a minimum of 5 years after the end of the grant performance period; Identification and substantiation of current or persistent threats or attacks (from within or outside the United States) by a terrorist organization, network, or cell against the applicant based on their ideology, beliefs, and/or mission as: 1) an ideology-based/spiritual/religious; 2) educational; 3) medical; or 4) other not-for-profit entity; Symbolic value of the site(s) as a highly recognized regional and/or national or historical institution(s) that renders the site a possible target of terrorism; Role of the applicant not-for-profit organization in responding to or recovering from terrorist attacks; Findings from previously conducted threat and/or vulnerability assessments; Integration of not-for-profit preparedness with broader state and local preparedness efforts; Complete and feasible application for each site that addresses an identified risk unique to that site, including the assessed threat, vulnerability, and consequence of the risk, and proposes building or sustaining a core capability; Proposed projects for the Grant Performance Period cannot be listed or claimed, in part or in whole, under any previous or current Federal grant or current grant application; and History of prior funding under Federal NSGP.

For more information regarding the grant, email Myong-Ae Kim, Illinois Emergency Management Acency’s chief accountability officer, at iema.grants@illinois.gov or call (217) 785-9890.

The list of allowed uses and not-allowed uses includes: NSGP-IL funds must be used for target-hardening activities, which can be accomplished through the purchase or installation of security equipment on real property (including buildings and improvements) owned or leased by the not-for-profit organization. Allowable equipment is limited to four categories of select items on the AEL Listing NSGP IL 1) Physical Security Enhancement Equipment (Category 14), e.g., alarm systems, reinforced security doors, barriers/fences, 2) Inspection and Screening Systems (Category 15), e.g., walk-through magnetometers or conveyor-belt x-ray systems to screen personnel and packages, 3) AEL 06CP-01-PORT Handheld Radios, and 4) 03OE-03-MEGA Public Warning Systems. Contract Security Personnel is also eligible. Equipment to support contracted security is not allowable. Training costs are allowed under this program only as described in the Notice of Funding Opportunity. Allowable training activities are active shooter training and evacuation and security training for employees.