Arkansas Department of Public Safety grants more than $200,000 to faith organizations

Elena Ramirez
·1 min read
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LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KNWA/KARK) — More than $200,000 was granted to six faith organizations across Arkansas to provide aid against possible “terrorist attacks,” according to a news release from the Arkansas State Police.

The Arkansas Department of Public Safety and Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders created the Right to Worship Safely Grant Program to enhance security for faith organizations at high risk for a terrorist attack, according to a news release.

The RTWSGP helps support faith organizations enhance security by supporting physical security enhancements and other security to “assist nonprofit ideology-based/spiritual/religious entities in the prevention, protection against, preparedness for, and response to terrorist threat(s) and/or other extremist attack(s),” the news release states.

Relics stolen, altar vandalized from Logan County’s Subiaco Abbey altar, one in custody

“The right to worship freely is our most fundamental right,” said Sanders.

A total of $227,792 was awarded to the following faith organizations:

  • Congregation Agudath Achim:  $43,200

  • Congregation B’nai Israel:  $74,449

  • Congregation House of Israel:  $11,273

  • Lubavitch of Arkansas:  $60,000

  • St. Mary’s Catholic Church Hot Springs:  $8,065

  • Subiaco Abbey:  $30,805

The news release states that 31 entities applied for the grants, requesting a total of $2,139,421.

The entities have to fit the following requirements to be granted the RTWSGP:

  • Designated as a 501(c)3 organization; and

  • Received an active terrorist threat(s) and/or extremist attack(s) in the past twelve months; and

  • Established risk to the organization (Threat, Vulnerability, and Consequence); Applicants must also be located within the state of Arkansas.

  • Threats were verified and evaluated by the Arkansas State Police for credibility and applications were reviewed by the RTWS Committee.

The news release states that threats were verified and evaluated by ASP.

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