West Cook News

Cook County has unveiled two new grant opportunities aimed at enhancing community safety. The Cook County Community Violence Intervention Grants (CC-CVI) will allocate $20 million to support community-based services like street outreach for residents at risk of involvement in violence. Additionally, the Cook County Wraparound Services for Survivors of Gun Violence (CC-SGV) initiative will provide $10 million for services aiding survivors of gun violence.

"Alongside our state and city partners, Cook County remains committed to investing in effective, human-centered approaches to community safety," stated Cook County Board President Preckwinkle. "These thoughtfully designed grant opportunities will strengthen the local community safety ecosystem by reaching and supporting two groups of residents: those most at risk of being involved in gun violence and those who are survivors of gun violence. By supporting our most vulnerable residents, we build safer communities for all."

Both initiatives are funded by the county and administered by the Cook County Justice Advisory Council (JAC). They expand on the 2022 Gun Violence Prevention and Reduction Grant initiative (GVPR), which utilized federal American Rescue Plan Act funding to invest $110 million in violence prevention services in areas with high rates of gun violence.

"We have seen rates of gun violence start to decline over the past two years, but to ensure continued progress, we must ensure continued investment and continuity of service," said Avik Das, Executive Director of the Cook County Justice Advisory Council. "The CC-CVI and CC-SGV initiatives are designed to focus on complementary approaches, funding the ongoing prevention and healing work essential to disrupt cycles of gun violence and bring about lasting peace in communities."

These initiatives align with funding opportunities under the Government Alliance for Safe Communities (GASC), formed in 2021 to enhance community safety across Chicago. GASC includes leaders from Illinois state agencies, Cook County, and Chicago city officials working alongside philanthropic organizations.

Non-profit organizations based in Cook County can apply for these grants. The CC-CVI initiative supports various services such as street outreach and case management, while CC-SGV focuses on crisis intervention, behavioral health services, and emergency financial assistance for survivors.

Key dates include a virtual information session on March 6, 2025; notice release on March 17; a pre-submittal conference on March 27; and an application deadline on April 14 at 5:00 pm CST.

For more details or to apply for these grants, visit CookCountyIL.gov/JACGrants.