Washington County Economic Alliance Secures Grant for Community Safety
May 16, 2023
Contact: Hillary Boggs
Email: hboggs@wceams.com
Washington County Economic Alliance Secures Grant for Community Safety
Greenville, MS, May 16, 2023: The Greenville Police Department will be the recipient of a $150,000 competitive grant award from the Rural Violent Crime Reduction Initiative (RVCI). The Rural Violent Crime Reduction Initiative is an effort, funded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), to provide funding and assistance to rural law enforcement agencies seeking to reduce violent crime and address problems associated with violent crime.
“Community safety is essential with growing economic development and industrial investment in our rural communities. Greenville and Washington County have tremendous opportunity for growth and expansion – and this grant ensures that our city and county can further collaborate with the community to build a prosperous tomorrow,” said Washington County Economic Alliance President and CEO Justin Archer Burch.
Funding and support are available for implementing violent crime reduction strategies, improving investigations, improving services to victims, and for enhancing collaboration between local stakeholders. This will be achieved through the provision of training; deployment of technology; improvement of communication and collaboration between stakeholders; and expansion of community-based crime prevention programs and partnerships with victim services providers.
The Greenville Police Department will receive funding to secure additional capacity building and purchase approximately 21 Sky Cops. Sky Cops’ finely targeted system identifies disturbances, helps track perpetrators, and identifies crime hot spots efficiently so law enforcement can intervene. “In many cases, Sky Cops’ presence alone is enough to deter criminals and make it possible to deploy law enforcement faster,” said Major Misty Mew of the Greenville Police Department.
As part of the community partnership, Greater Greenville Housing and Revitalization Association, Inc. will also provide capacity building and technical assistance support to the Greenville Police Department. “We are thrilled to partner with the Washington County Economic Alliance and the Greenville Police Department to secure this much needed grant for our community. This project will be a catalyst in helping Greenville make a meaningful and sustainable change in an effort to restore safety and build a healthier community,” said Daniel Boggs, CEO of Greater Greenville Housing and Revitalization Association, Inc.
The Greenville Safety & Justice Collaborative is backboned by the Washington County Economic Alliance under LISC and is a strategic public-private partnership dedicated to a society where poverty is not criminalized, where neighbors are able to ensure the safety of their own communities, and where opportunities are abundant and accessible. For this vision to become a reality, residents must have the resources they need to live in dignity, the tools to self-manage conflict, the respect of state institutions, and the assurance that when the social contract is broken, justice will be swift and truly fair.