The Mayor’s Gang Prevention and Intervention Task Force (GPIT) grant program is awarding $680,000 to 18 community-based organizations to help the City prevent gang violence. Grant awards range from $25,000 to $90,000. The recommended grant recipients will go to City Council for final approval on Tuesday, March 1.
In the City’s first distribution of grants, the City is connecting with non-profit organizations to provide social services. Aligning with the Mayor and Council’s identified priority locations, neighborhoods to be served include Del Paso Heights, Valley Hi, Oak Park, Meadowview, Fruitridge/ Lemon Hill, Arden Arcade, North Sacramento and Natomas.
See the list of organizations recommended to be funded by the grant program.
“We have come to realize that in order to address the root causes in youth and gang violence we have to have a comprehensive approach: schools, faith leaders, law enforcement and other social service organizations. This is an investment that we are making in our youth and undeserved families,” said Vice Mayor Rick Jennings, taskforce chair.
The City’s taskforce was re-created in response to an increase of gang violence in communities. The City and its partner agencies understand that gang violence “is a problem we cannot arrest our way out of.”
In June 2015, City Council allocated $1 million for the task force from Measure U, the half-cent sales tax. From these funds, $680,000 has been allocated to the grant program.
For more information, please visit the Sacramento Gang Prevention and Intervention Task Force webpage.