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Press Release

More Than $5.2 Million In Federal Grants Awarded To Agencies In The Western District

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of North Carolina

 

 CHARLOTTE, N.C. – U.S. Attorney Jill Westmoreland Rose announced today that $5,270,994 in federal grants have been awarded to local law enforcement agencies, non-profit organizations, and tribal government programs in the Western District of North Carolina.  The federal grants are administered by multiple awarding agencies, which are components of the Justice Department’s Office of Justice Programs (OJP).

 

“Federal grants are an important funding source for a broad spectrum of agencies in the Western District.  Local law enforcement, non-profit service providers, community organizations and tribal governments count on federal grants to supplement their resources, launch new initiatives, support existing programs, and provide important services to their communities.  The awarded grants will be used to enhance the Justice Department’s and my Office’s efforts to reduce violent crime, assist victims of crime, enhance access to services and increase public safety throughout this district,” said U.S. Attorney Rose.    

 

The recipients of the grants are:

 

City of Charlotte: Two federal grants totaling $1,431,708 were awarded to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD). Specifically, $1,125,606 will be used to sustain and expand CMPD’s current testing of Sexual Assault Kits (SAKs), to reduce the existing number of SAKs in its inventory, and to update CMPD’s current technology related to SAKs.  Another $306,102 has been awarded to enhance CMPD’s current DNA analysis process, to reduce the current number of DNA cases and to maintain CMPD’s laboratory capabilities.

Mecklenburg County: The County will receive a total of $718,794 in federal grants, of which $368,798 will be used to support the County’s implementation of the Mecklenburg County Systemic Response Plan to the opioid crisis, including, to gather information about and enhance services to targeted populations. The Mecklenburg County Community Support Services Department will receive a $349,996 federal grant, to provide housing and supportive services to 20 victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence or stalking and their families.

Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI): As the recipients of three federal grants totaling $1,720,442, EBCI will apply the awarded funds to combat violence against women in Indian Country, improve public safety, serve victims of crime, increase access to victim services including housing and legal assistance, coordinate outreach and awareness activities, and support youth programs in Indian Country. 

30th Judicial District Domestic Violence-Sexual Assault Alliance: The grantee has been awarded $600,000 toward increasing victim advocacy and providing comprehensive legal services to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence and stalking in Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Jackson, Macon and Swain Counties in Western North Carolina. 

Haywood County:  As recipient of a $450,000 grant, the County will collaborate with the 30th Judicial District Domestic Violence-Sexual Assault Alliance to provide centralized and comprehensive services to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence and stalking.  A portion of the funds will be used to provide sexual assault training for law enforcement officers, technical assistance related to investigations, and services to specific victims.

Helpmate, Incorporated:  Awarded $350,000, Helpmate, in cooperation with the Housing Authority of the City of Asheville, will use the grant to provide, among other things, permanent housing and supportive services to 20 survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence or stalking and their families.

 

Office of Justice Programs (OJP) and current OJP funding opportunities can be found at: https://ojp.gov/funding/index.htm

 

The Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) administers grant programs authorized by the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) of 1994 and subsequent legislation.  For a list of OVW grant programs and additional grant funding information please visit: http://www.justice.gov/ovw/grant-programs.

 

The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) provides leadership and assistance to local criminal justice programs that improve and reinforce the nation’s criminal justice system.  BJA’s goals are to reduce and prevent crime, violence, and drug abuse and to improve the way in which the criminal justice system functions. BJA works closely with programs that bolster law enforcement operations, expand drug courts, and provide benefits to safety officers. BJA Funding announcements are posted at: https://www.bja.gov/funding.aspx.

 

The National Institute of Justice (NIJ) is the research, development and evaluation agency of the U.S. Department of Justice, dedicated to improving knowledge and understanding of crime and justice issues through science. For additional information and to locate a funding opportunity please visit:

http://www.nij.gov/funding/Pages/welcome.aspx.

Updated October 10, 2017