Kildee Announces $225,000 for the

WASHINGTON - Congressman Dale E. Kildee (D-MI) announced today that the United Way of Genesee County has been awarded a $225,000 federal grant to finance the Weed and Seed Program.  The U.S. Department of Justice awarded the grant to the United Way’s Flint North Central Weed and Seed program to help fight against the use of illegal drugs and drug-related crime in the Flint area.  This is the Flint North Central Weed and Seed program’s third grant award since it received Justice Department recognition in 1997.

“The Weed and Seed Program has been successful nationwide in helping communities like Flint stem the tide of illegal drugs and violent crime in our neighborhoods,” said Kildee.  “In order to win the war against drugs, we must continue to provide law enforcement agencies with the necessary resources and tools to help eradicate the usage of illegal drugs in our city.”

The Flint North Central Weed and Seed site first received official recognition in 1997 and was recertified in 2003.  The boundaries include Carpenter Road on the north, Pierson road on the south, Boulevard-East on the east, and Dupont Street on the west. 

The U.S. Department of Justice’s Weed and Seed Program was developed to demonstrate an innovative and comprehensive approach to law enforcement and community revitalization, and to prevent and control violent crime, drug abuse, and gang activity in target areas.  The program attempts to “weed” out violent crime, gang activity, and drug use and trafficking in target areas, and then “seed” the target area by restoring the neighborhood through social and economic revitalization.  To achieve this goal, Weed and Seed integrates law enforcement, community policing, prevention, intervention, treatment and neighborhood restoration efforts.