Governor Pritzker recently announced the first of three Notice of Funding Opportunities (NOFOs) for eligible organizations to apply for over $150 million in state funding to further violence prevention efforts. The first round of funding includes more than $50 million for violence prevention services in Chicago including street-based violence interruption work and victim services. Subsequent rounds of funding for statewide youth development and high-risk youth intervention programs will open later this month. The grants are made possible through the Reimagine Public Safety Act (RPSA), which aims to address the root causes of firearm violence in Illinois through targeted, integrated behavioral health services, access to economic opportunities, and violence interruption and prevention programs. To provide communities with the resources they need to uplift local residents, the governor’s proposed fiscal year 2023 budget increases that figure to $832 million. The initial round of more than $50 million in grants includes funding to support work in 37 eligible community areas, defined by the RPSA as the locations with the most concentrated firearm violence in Chicago. Eligible organizations include those doing street-based violence interruption work, victim services, trauma related therapy, and case management. Interested organizations can view the application online. Applications are due on March 9th and grants will be awarded in April.  For further information on available funding opportunities to combat violence, visit www.DHS.Illinois.gov/OFVP or www.DHS.Illinois.Gov/Grants.