Rep. Darryl Owens joins Congressman John Yarmuth and Councilwoman Cheri Bryant Hamilton in announcing
a $175, 000 Federal Grant for Shawnee Neighborhood Award


In April, Congressman John Yarmuth (D-KY) presented $175,000 to Rep. Darryl Owens, (D-Louisville) and Councilwoman Cheri Bryant Hamilton (D-5) as a first year federal grant for the Shawnee Weed and Seed Program.


The Shawnee Weed and Seed program is a community-based strategy sponsored by the U.S. Department of Justice Community Capacity Development Office (DOJ-CCDO). It is an innovative, comprehensive multi-agency approach to law enforcement, crime prevention, and neighborhood revitalization.


“This grant is the result of many long hours and dedicated work of many people in the Shawnee Neighborhood who want to make it a better place for our children and our families,” said Owens.


Weed and Seed is foremost a strategy—rather than a grant program--that aims to prevent, control, and reduce violent crime, drug abuse, and gang activity in designated high crime neighborhoods across the country while expanding the economic and social vitality of the community.

Two key programs of Weed and Seed, Neighborhood Restoration and Prevention, Intervention and Treatment will receive $60,000 of the grant money. Another $17,000 is set aside for youth programs. The remainder will be used for the law enforcement component in partnership with Louisville Metro Police.


“I am proud to support Weed & Seed and its common sense approach to keeping our neighborhoods safe,” said Yarmuth. “The funding will help foster a critical partnership that will improve the lives of working families throughout the community."


“This is an ongoing process,” said Hamilton. “What began as an organizational meeting some two years ago has evolved into a plan of action for reducing crime and restoring our neighborhoods and we are ready to continue this important work.”


More information on the Shawnee Weed and Seed Program:


Shawnee Weed and Seed focuses: on neighborhood residents working with police, human service agencies, churches, schools and youth groups to solve community problems. The goal is to improve safety and the quality of life in Shawnee by reducing crime and enhancing services and economic opportunities

Shawnee Weed and Seed Steering Committee: 22 voting members, including the U.S. Attorney’s Office, DEA, Mayor’s Office, Louisville Metro Police Department and representatives of human service agencies who serve alongside eleven Shawnee residents.

In July and August of 2007, surveys were distributed to Shawnee residents to determine the community’s biggest concerns. Five priorities were identified; Community Priority I- To reduce or to prevent Juvenile Crime Community Priority II- To reduce Violent Crime Community Priority III- To improve Neighborhood Economic and Image Development Community Priority IV- To reduce Repeat Criminal Offenses (Recidivism) Community Priority V- To improve police, community and court system communication and relations

Based on these priorities, a grant was submitted to the U.S. Department of Justice, Community Capacity Development Office. That was approved in September 2008. The grant will focus on several goals.

Law Enforcement - Enhance the effectiveness of police, attorneys, courts and probation and parole to reduce crime in Shawnee. Improve communication and coordination between law enforcement at the local, state and federal level.

Neighborhood Restoration - promote neighborhood revitalization by improving job training and employment opportunities, small business development, housing conditions, homeownership opportunities and the physical environment of Shawnee.

Prevention/Invention/Treatment – coordinate with human service agencies, and to increase cooperation between agencies and Shawnee residents and to develop new programs to reduce/prevent crime.

Community Policing - To engage residents in problem solving with 2nd Division Police Officers, to develop crime prevention campaigns to reduce violent crime in Shawnee and to increase the number of active block watch groups.