$9.2m Grant Available For Reducing Violence

SACRAMENTO (Nov. 9, 2017) – The Board of State and Community Corrections today approved release of a solicitation for a new grant aimed at reducing violent crime in California.

The California Violence Intervention and Prevention Grant replaces the California Gang Reduction, Intervention and Prevention grant and expands the grant’s purpose. The Board voted today to approve the request for proposals and authorized its release on November 13.

Assembly Bill 97 (Statutes of 2017, Chapter 14) provided $9.215 million in funding for CalVIP, with $1 million available in a non-competitive grant to the City of Los Angeles if its application meets requirements. The remaining $8.215 million will be awarded through a competitive grant process. Applicants may request up to $500,000 and must match their awards either with cash or in-kind contributions.

Under the old gang-reduction grant only cities could apply for the funding. In addition to cities, the new authorizing legislation allows community-based organizations an opportunity to apply directly for funding to reduce violence in their communities. Successful applicants will emphasize programs that have been shown to be effective.

Cities that are awarded funds must pass through 50 percent of the funding to community organizations, up from 20 percent in years past. Any city that receives funding must convene an advisory council to help make spending decisions.
The applications from cities that are disproportionately affected by violence will be given extra consideration through the awarding of preference points worth up to 5 percent of the total score. The Executive Steering Committee that wrote the RFP used crime data reported to the California Department of Justice to determine the cities most impacted by homicide, robbery and aggravated assault. A list appears in the RFP.
Bidders conferences for prospective applicants will be held on December 5 in Sacramento and December 7 12  in Inglewood Van Nuys. Details are in the RFP. Proposals are due back to the BSCC by Jan. 22, 2018. The Board plans to make the grant awards at its April 19, 2018 meeting.

For more information about this program please contact Tracie Cone at tracie.cone@bscc.ca.gov or call 916-322-1054
For more information about the grant-application process, please contact Colleen Curtin at colleen.curtin@bscc.ca.gov