Rockford to get share of $50M for gun violence prevention

By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — The city will receive a share of $50 million being spent statewide this year on programs meant to prevent violence by addressing addiction, mental illness, youth trauma and other underlying causes of gun crime.

The money is part of the state’s new Reimagine Public Safety Act, which became law in June and was expanded in early December. The goal of the legislation is to provide holistic solutions to statewide gun violence. Aside from the $50 million budgeted for this year, an additional $200 million is expected to be spent on programs in 2023 and 2024.

“Crime — and especially gun violence — is a major challenge facing Rockford and a big obstacle to our community becoming a top place to live and work,” Stadelman said Friday during a news conference outside the EJ Zeke Giorgi Center. “Rockford being the focus of the state’s new strategy for preventing gun violence is welcome news because the state’s strategy targets on root causes and pumps resources to local people who are on the ground and best equipped to make the most of these resources.”

Related: Rockford organization focuses on cure, not response to violence

Stadelman, along with state Rep. Maurice West II and state Rep. Dave Vella made the announcement that Rockford is one of 10 cities outside of Chicago that will receive funding. The selection was based on per-capita gun violence from 2016 to 2020, the last year which marked Rockford’s deadliest on record with 36 homicides.

“I am proud that we made sure Rockford will be receiving the money,” Vella said in a news release. “We need to combat our rising gun violence problem through the Reimaging Public Safety law. The money will be distributed by local advisory councils to local community organizations who know first hand what Rockford needs and what will work to stop the violence. We have a problem, and this money will help us solve the problems ourselves.”

Related: McNamara calls for communitywide push to stop the cycle of violence

How much Rockford will receive will be determined later this year by an advisory council of the Illinois Department of Human Services. IDHS is expected to name individuals to serve on Local Advisory Councils, which oversee distribution of funds to local organizations, later this month.

“The Reimagine Public Safety Act is coming to Rockford and will be a change agent to how we combat gun violence,” West said in a news release. “I am particularly excited about the fact that we are investing in community organizations who have boots on the ground within the communities that are impacted the most by gun violence. Empowering the community to better the community is the true definition of reimagining public safety. I look forward to seeing how this investment makes Rockford a better place to work, live and play.”

This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on Twitter at @KevinMHaas.