City of Toledo Awarded $2 Million Department of Justice Grant to Combat Gun Violence

The City of Toledo has been awarded a $2 million Community-Based Violence Intervention and Prevention Initiative (CVIPI) Site-Based Grant from the Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA). This transformative funding will support evidence-based efforts to reduce gun violence, while addressing root causes and promoting community resilience over the next three years.

The CVIPI grant will fund a multifaceted approach to preventing and reducing violent crime in Toledo, focusing on empowering historically underserved communities. Key initiatives supported by this funding include:

• Awarding quarterly microgrants to community-based and grassroots initiatives aimed at addressing violence and promoting peace.
• Conducting a comprehensive assessment of Toledo's Community-Based Violence Intervention and Prevention (CVIP) landscape, in partnership with research experts from Bowling Green State University and Boston University.
• Supporting the Violence Reduction Council in conducting community service provider reviews of fatal and nonfatal shootings.
• Launching the Peace in Motion Academy to build the capacity of CVIP practitioners through training and technical assistance.
• Providing competitive subgrants to two community-based organizations to implement and sustain evidence-based CVIP models.

"As a lifelong resident of Toledo and Northwest Ohio, I know that over time our city and region have undergone many changes. In an evolving age of policing and justice initiatives, we need to adapt to new and advanced methods of crime prevention that are proven to work," said Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09).

"This federal funding I helped to secure through the Department of Justice will allow the City of Toledo, Mayor Kapszukiewicz, and the Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement to reduce gun violence through partnership with community, local government, hospitals, victim service providers, and law enforcement. We must use every tool in our arsenal to address issues of public safety. I applaud the City of Toledo and Department of Justice for this innovative approach that aims to address these problems in our communities. By working together to address root causes and provide necessary tools, we can make a safer Toledo and Northwest Ohio for all."

"This $2 Million grant from the Department of Justice is a win for Toledo residents," said Toledo Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz. "By investing in evidence-based strategies and empowering community-led initiatives, this funding will help us continue the progress we've made in reducing violence, saving lives, and creating opportunities for our residents. We are deeply grateful to our federal partners, including Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur, for championing this critical investment in our community's future."

The funding will enhance the ongoing work of the Community Action Table, a cross-disciplinary group of individuals and organizations closest to the issue of gun violence, and support the implementation of Peace In Motion: Toledo's Path to Community Safety, the city's comprehensive five-year violence reduction plan.