Federal dollars are on the way to help improve safety and security in one section of the City of Buffalo.
The Department of Justice has awarded a grant of $962,765 to the Buffalo Promise Neighborhood. The two-year-old public/private group, largely funded by M&T Bank, works with a broad range of partners and service providers, including the Buffalo Urban League.
The organization is a community of 12,000 residents in the 14215 zip code who are working to improve their quality of life. The area includes Buffalo's Bailey/Kensington neighborhood, which is often troubled by crime.
Urban League President and CEO Brenda McDuffie says the goal is to make people feel safe.
"We know safety affects the well-being and stability of the neighborhood and we are elated to be a partner in this initiative, making sure that we link to providing those services, particularly to our young adults, that will impact their development," said McDuffie.
Promise Neighborhood CEO David Chamberlain says the grant will be administered over three years and fund a number of initiatives, including additional police patrols, a youth outreach program, and new cameras and radios to help monitor crime in the northeast section of Buffalo.