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Press Release

U.S. Department of Justice
United States Attorney
District of Hawaii


PJKK Federal Building (808) 541-2850
300 Ala Moana Blvd., Room 6-100 FAX (808) 541-2958
Honolulu, Hawaii 96850

For Immediate Release

August 25, 2008

HONOLULU YMCA AWARDED $150,000 FOR WEED AND SEED EFFORTS

Ed Kubo, U.S. Attorney for Hawaii, announced today that the Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Community Capacity Development Office has awarded the Honolulu YMCA $150,000 for the continuation of the Weed and Seed Program in the downtown Honolulu Area.

The money will assist police efforts to combat violent crime and to devise plans to close businesses that support criminal activity. Additionally, funding will assist community policing and forging alliances between criminal justice agencies, service organizations, the private sector and residents. The money will also help prevention, intervention, and treatment strategies to reduce youth crime. Finally, the money will allow neighborhood restoration projects to improve housing conditions, expand employment opportunities, and improve economic conditions within the community.

"I am extremely happy that our Hawaii Weed and Seed sites continue to be recognized as the Model for our Nation. This funding recognizes that we are on the right track with our strategies, our goals, and our achievements in making our neighborhoods a better place for our families and our children," Kubo said. "I am very proud of our Honolulu Police, our community volunteers, our community leaders, and service providers and businesses for being leaders in our fight against drug abuse, crime and gang activity in this geographical site, and I deeply appreciate their continued pledged to do even more for our people."

Additional information about these awards is available from the Office of Justice Program's Office of Communications at (202) 307-0703.

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