Levin Lauds "Weeds and Seed" Award to City of Holland

Grant of $175,000 to be Used for Crime Prevention, Community Revitalization

WASHINGTON Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., announced today that the City of Holland will receive $175,000 to fight and prevent crime through the Weed and Seed program. Administered through the Department of Justice, this program is designed to "weed out" crime, drugs and gang activity from selected neighborhoods, stabilize these areas with community policing, and place the "seeds" of crime prevention and improved social services to build healthier, crime-free communities.

"When it comes to making our streets safer for families, there's no one approach that will work on its own," Levin said. "Instead, the multi-prong strategy behind the Weed and Seed program -- employing law enforcement, community policing and neighborhood restoration -- helps involve the community in addressing a multi-faceted challenge. I'm pleased to learn that Holland has received this support for its comprehensive approach to local crime control."

Weed and Seed is a discretionary grant program coordinated by the Executive Office for Weed and Seed (EOWS) in the Department of Justice. To qualify for Weed and Seed grant money, communities must first develop a program strategy in coordination with the U.S. Attorney's Office. A community's plan must then be approved by EOWS and deemed "Officially Recognized," or available for Weed and Seed funds. Holland was officially recognized in 1994.

With this grant money, Holland plans to fund a gang task force, provide community police officers with training on school and domestic violence issues and increase economic development in target areas.

The Commerce, Justice, and State FY2000 funding bill approved by the Senate last week would provide an additional $40 million for the Weed and Seed program.