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York secures $75K grant for virtual reality goggles to help train prisoners for jobs

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York Mayor Michael Helfrich attended the U.S. Conference of Mayors in Kansas City, Missouri last month, and the city received a $75,000 grant to help incarcerated individuals train for a career using virtual reality.

The city also received an honorable mention for its Group Violence Intervention initiative. It has resulted in a dramatic drop in crime.

Helfrich spoke about his time at the annual meeting and a list of ideas he garnered on a variety of topics, including economic mobility, immigration and homelessness, during a news conference Thursday.

Of the two big recognitions the city received, Helfrich said, it’s great when mayors of larger cities come over and say, “hey, congratulations on that award.”

“…York’s on the map,” he said.

York City wins $75,000 grant for virtual reality program

The U.S. Conference of Mayors and the Comcast Corporation awarded $1.5 million in grants during the meeting “to support local workforce programs and close the digital skills gap,” according to a news release. 

York won in the small city category for its Digital Equity for Justice-Impacted Residents plan, the release states.

SCPa Works, which oversees Career Link, already works with individuals who are returning home after being incarcerated to help reduce recidivism. A new program will bring virtual reality goggles into the prison so the inmates can start training on a career, such as health care, auto maintenance and construction, Helfrich said.

The virtual reality will simulate jobs. They will be turning wrenches or working with a patient.

At the conference of mayors a couple of years ago, Helfrich and others used virtual reality to experience the space station, which he described as “wild.” They felt the weightlessness.

“…these things are extremely realistic and give folks a great opportunity … not only to learn the skills, but also to try different options,” he said.

SCPA Works will buy 10 virtual reality goggles as well as buy the curriculum. It will be able to help more than 100 inmates, city spokesman Scott Miller said.

While state prisons have used the virtual reality googles, it will mark the first time for the York County Prison.

York’s GVI program receives national recognition

York also received an honorable mention for a small city for its Group Violence Intervention program, which has helped to reduce “group-related gun violence” by 80 percent in recent years.

GVI Project Manager Tiff Lowe and her staff work with young people to help prevent violence from occurring.

The U.S. Conference of Mayors and Target recognized police Commissioner Muldrow, Lowe, the entire police department and himself, Helfrich said.

“… I again want to thank the community for working with us and trusting us … to try and make our community better and safer for everyone,” he said.

More: Gun violence is ‘an epidemic,’ and here’s what York is doing to combat it

More: York gun violence was down dramatically in 2023. Police credit changes in enforcement

Other ideas the mayor is pursuing

Helfrich said he has already started to pursue some of the ideas he picked up at the conference. They include:

  • Talking with the Redevelopment Authority about getting separate mowing contracts for different neighborhoods to help small businesses.
  • Having discussions with the ATF about doing another straw purchase operation to help keep guns out of the hands of children.
  • Talking with Muldrow about sharing more information with the public when a shooting happens.
  • Reaching out to the health bureau about having a skin cancer screening event.
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