Cleveland Community Police Commission Opens Applications for Violence Prevention Grants, Addresses Backlog
The Cleveland Community Police Commission has opened a new application period for grants aimed at community groups involved in violence prevention, restorative justice, or mediation. This initiative is funded by a city charter mandate, allocating 0.5% of the Cleveland Division of Police's budget to these grants, which amounted to nearly $1.4 million this year. The commission has been working to resolve a significant backlog of unpaid awards dating back to 2023. Executive Director Shalenah Williams, who was hired in January, and her team have made progress, reporting that 80% of 2023 awards and over 70% of 2024 awards have been paid out. The new application period closes on November 30, with the commission expecting to finalize the process by March. Eligible groups must be Cleveland-based nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status or have a fiscal agent. Grants are available in two categories: up to 15 grants for organizations with annual budgets under $1 million, a history of neighborhood service, and limited extern...
