2022 12 20 City Council Agenda Packet

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PUBLIC WORKS

TO: Mike Keith, Interim City Manager
FROM: Kevin L. Helms, Project Manager
Ce: Fred Schultz, Police Chief

Jason Garren, Deputy Chief
Ben Burchfield, Public Works Director
DATE: December 5, 2022

SUBJECT: Violent Crime Intervention Fund

Background
The State of Tennessee appropriated $100 million in the FY23 Budget for the Violent Crime Intervention

Fund (VCIF), which provides grant funding for local law enforcement agencies to implement evidence-
based programs, technology, and strategies that will reduce violent crime in communities. The grant fund
is broken into two components each of which has separate funding allocations. The first is a formula-
based award where a specific formula developed by the State was applied to each community and based
upon the outcome a specific amount of funding was set aside for the community. The second allocation
is for a competitive collaborative program where law enforcement agencies must partner with at least
one other agency and compete for the funding based upon the best applications submitted.

The Athens Police Department wishes to apply for the formula-based funding which has been set aside
for the City of Athens. The amount available to the City is $188,579 and no matching local funds are
required to receive the grant. It is our understanding if an application is submitted by the Department
outlining proposed approved uses for the funding, then award of funding is guaranteed.

Process

There is a two-part application process for this grant program. A non-binding Letter of Intent to apply
must be submitted by December 15, 2022. A final application for the grant funding must be submitted by
January 16, 2023. The total amount of funds available to the City is $188,579 but these funds have been
allocated over a three-year span, so all funds do not have to be spent until June 30, 2025.

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