MooreEvent

In the Spotlight
$329,000 in Federal Funding will Support Crime and Safety Programs in KCK Neighborhoods

KANSAS CITY, KS (April 21, 2008) — Greater Kansas City LISC announced today that funding from a FY2008 appropriation through the U.S. Department of Justice will supplement successful crime reduction and safety programs in three Kansas City, Kansas NeighborhoodsNOW communities: Douglass-Sumner, Downtown Kansas City, Kan., and St. Peter/Waterway. The announcement was made at a special appreciation press conference and reception at the Main Branch of the Kansas City, Kansas Public Library for U.S. Representative Dennis Moore, who secured the $329,000 federal grant.

“We greatly appreciate the continued commitment from Congressman Moore who considers urban-core neighborhoods a priority,” said Julie Porter, Greater Kansas City LISC Executive Director. “These funds strengthen the safety net in three KCK urban-core neighborhoods by increasing community organizing efforts, expanding neighborhood watch programs and empowering residents to take back their streets from crime.”

The funding will strengthen a comprehensive crime and safety initiative by supporting new and existing programs in the three target neighborhoods. Examples of the funding support include:

Expanding NeighborhoodsNOW community organizing activities. A community organizer will be dedicated to each neighborhood to develop programs that reduce crime, facilitate partnerships between law enforcement and residents, implement neighborhood safety activities, and increaseawareness of crime reduction tips and techniques for residents.

Pictured from left to right are Kansas City, Kansas Mayor Joe

Reardon; Julie Porter, Greater Kansas City LISC Executive Director;

Kelly Kultala of the Community Foundation of Wyandotte County

where funds will be on deposit; and Lynn Craghead, Greater Kansas

City LISC Board Chair accepting a "large check" from Congressman

Dennis Moore.

Supporting the Operation Weed & Seed Program, sponsored by the Kansas City, Kansas Police Department. This multi-sector approach aims to prevent, control, and reduce violent crime, drug abuse, and gang activity in targeted high-crime neighborhoods. The strategy involves working with law enforcement agencies and prosecutors to "weed out" criminals who participate in violent crime and drug abuse; and "seed in" human services to the area, encompassing prevention, intervention, treatment, and neighborhood revitalization.
Expanding the surveillance camera and monitoring program, which is part of a new metrowide project through the Kansas City, Kansas Police Department and the Kansas City Metropolitan Crime Commission.
Providing crime prevention and safety training for merchants and residents.
Supplementing the Metropolitan Community Service Project (MCCSP), a component of the Metropolitan Crime Commission. Through its bi-state clean-up and beautification activities, MCCSP has selected Minnesota Avenue in the NeighborhoodsNOW target area as a focus.

Speaking at the press conference, Congressman Moore said, "Revitalizing communities is a large task and cannot be done alone, so what we're really celebrating is our collective unwillingness to give up and our combined efforts to strengthen our urban communities. Communities are more than just streets and homes - they are places where children can explore, where neighbors help each other and where we set down roots and turn a house into a home. I'm proud to have been a part of this important project."

“Congressman Moore’s support of our community development initiatives through the years has lead to lasting positive growth in our urban core neighborhoods,” says Mayor Joe Reardon. “These funds will further help make our urban-core neighborhoods positive, safe places to live, work and raise a family.”

Launched in 2005, NeighborhoodsNOW is a comprehensive redevelopment program to create sustainable communities.

The three Kansas City, Kansas neighborhoods were named NeighborhoodsNOW target areas because they exemplified the greatest potential for a focused community development effort. In addition to being supported by committed redevelopment partners and having strong grass-roots neighborhood leadership, their close proximity to each other allows for greater leverage and maximizes the impact. The program also supports three major target areas and four secondary neighborhoods in Kansas City, Missouri.

Through NeighborhoodsNOW, Greater Kansas City brings together partners such as Congressman Moore, community leaders, law enforcement, and residents to identify neighborhood issues and determine solutions. Greater Kansas City LISC’s role is to help residents’ define goals and projects; identify and bring to the table funding sources and partners; provide technical assistance and expertise; and, finally, document the outcomes for future efforts.

“As a community development intermediary, Greater Kansas City LISC’s job is to bring the partners to the projects, manage the grant disbursements, and make sure that resources are spent wisely and effectively,” said Porter. “NeighborhoodsNOW is an important tool for creating stable, growing and sustainable communities.”