SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – The Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Presbyterian Church in Springfield will receive more than $68,000 as part of a grant to improve security for nonprofits at high risk of hate crimes.
ARPA funding awarded to rebuild MLK Community Presbyterian Church in Springfield
More than $3.8 million in grants will be awarded to more than 80 Massachusetts nonprofits through the FY24 Commonwealth Nonprofit Security Grant Program and the FY24 Commonwealth Nonprofit Security Personnel Grant Program. Organizations include faith-based organizations, health care providers, social service providers, and other community-based organizations, whose beliefs or mission have made them a target of hate.
While most of the grants will be award in eastern Massachusetts, several locations in western Massachusetts will be receiving funding. The Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Presbyterian Church will receive $68,800 through the grant.
The Martin Luther King, Jr. Presbyterian Church was heavily damaged in a fire set on December 28, 2020. The roof and most of the inside of the church were destroyed, and members of the congregation were forced to worship elsewhere ever since. The fire was determined to be intentionally started and a suspect was arrested, Dushko Vulchev of Houlton, Maine.