$200K Weed/Seed grant will fight N. Side crime

More than 250 of these programs exist in the U.S.

YOUNGSTOWN — Youngstown State University will receive a $200,000 grant for continuing support of the Youngstown Weed and Seed program, designed to fight crime and restore community infrastructure on the North Side.

Assistant U.S. Attorney General Regina B. Schofield recently announced the grant. Weed and Seed is a strategy designed to prevent, control and reduce violent crime, drug abuse and gang activity in targeted high-crime neighborhoods and to bring in services that promote crime prevention and neighborhood revitalization.

The funding is administered by the Community Capacity Development Office, a component of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs.

“This funding helps rebuild and restructure communities that have suffered because of criminal activity and social decay,” Schofield said. “These strategies encourage residents to work with law enforcement agencies to deter crime, identify resources and restore community cohesiveness.”

Partnerships

The partnerships formed in Weed and Seed include organizing and forming alliances with local businesses, faith-based organizations and other local or state organizations to identify and resolve specific criminal activity and replace it with other activities, including restoring buildings, providing youth activities and establishing new economic opportunities.

The plans and strategies for these sites include coordinating with federal, state, county and local prosecutors to reduce drug-related crimes, gang violence and property crimes; fostering joint responsibility and action between police and community residents; and improving the network between city agencies and community groups.

There are more than 250 Weed and Seed communities throughout the country.

The Office of Justice Programs provides federal leadership in developing the nation’s capacity to prevent and control crime, administer justice and assist victims.