The Biden administration will award economic grants to communities affected by gun violence as a way to prevent crime and increase opportunity.
A White House official told PoliticusUSA:
On Wednesday, February 28, Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff, the Office of Gun Violence Prevention (OGVP), and the Department of Labor (DOL) will host a roundtable on improving employment opportunities for communities affected by gun violence and discuss the Linking workforce development to violence intervention and prevention.
During the roundtable, DOL will also discuss its Growth Opportunities Program, which provides up to $85 million to improve employment opportunities for youth in communities affected by violence and poverty. This recently announced funding opportunity supports programs that provide job training through work-based learning, employment services, educational support and mentorship to youth and young adults in communities affected by violence, crime and poverty.
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These funds provided by the Growth Opportunities Program build on the Biden-Harris Administration’s efforts to prevent crime and promote public safety, including $15 billion provided by the President’s American Rescue Plan to support additional police officers, expand the community violence intervention, add crisis responders and more. While the President’s Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA) – the most significant gun safety legislation in 30 years – provides $250 million in funding for community-based violence prevention initiatives, as well as key investments for schools expand mental health services and violence intervention programs.
The Biden administration’s commitment is one way to try to reduce gun violence while rebuilding communities that have been affected by gun violence. Greater economic opportunity helps promote safer communities by eliminating crime as an incentive to earn a living.
In some communities, young people turn to crime due to a lack of economic opportunities. The Biden administration sees purpose in what it is doing.
A senior administration official told PoliticusUSA during a call with reporters:
These funding opportunities will be critical in providing much-needed resources to community organizations and government leaders who are investing in the hardest-hit communities that provide job opportunities. For those who are most at risk, most at risk and most vulnerable to gun violence, and ensuring that we are addressing both the lack of economic opportunity and the gun violence crisis.
These kinds of forward-thinking policies are why President Biden remains the right person to bring about the kind of cultural change that comes from smart presidents who want to solve the problems of the American people.
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