The City of Bloomington is encouraging organizations to apply for grants that will fund local violence reduction efforts.
Mayor John Hamilton has designated $125,000 in funding to support the Community-Based Violence Reduction Grants program, which will invest annually in violence prevention projects.
Organizations including nonprofits, neighborhood associations, resident councils and faith communities are eligible to apply.
Charles Culp, after-hours ambassador with Community and Family Resources, said projects should address challenges that are specific to different neighborhoods.
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“Part of the funding is just trying to get these neighborhood associations or faith-based communities or different things related to that to come out and tell us what they need and what they plan to do with the money,” Culp said. “We want to give them an opportunity to come up with solutions that are relevant to what they’re experiencing.”
Culp serves as a downtown liaison between businesses, college students and people experiencing homelessness.
He said social isolation is a major factor in violence and something the city wants to curb.
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“We're also looking at opportunities for community events, block parties, sort of situations that are kind of building communities, bringing people together so that they don't feel so isolated,” he said.
Culp said eligible organizations may apply for up to $25,000. The city has not received any applications to date.
The deadline to apply is 5 p.m. June 15. The city will announce award recipients by July 30, and program implementation will begin in early September or shortly thereafter.
