For many years Mercer County organizations such as AW/ARE have been available to assist victims of domestic violence and rape.

Thanks to a $37,878 grant from the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency, batterers and abusers who commit those crimes will also be able to get some help. Mercer County commissioners approved the grant agreement Thursday.

A required match of $12,626 from program revenues and court funds will also finance the new Domestic Abuse Counseling Center. Commissioner Olivia M. Lazor said no money will come out of the county's general fund for the program.

Commissioner Chairman Cloyd E. "Gene" Brenneman said the county's common pleas court judges recommended the program run by the Domestic Abuse Counseling Center of Allegheny County, which already serves more than 2,000 abusers throughout western Pennsylvania.