Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle was joined by Cook County Commissioners Brandon Johnson, Dennis Deer, Frank Aguilar, Alma Anaya and Bridget Degnen and Avik Das, Executive Director of the Justice Advisory Council, to announce the recipients of the County’s Gun Violence Prevention and Reduction Grant awards. Over 75 representatives from the newly awarded organizations attended the inaugural convening to connect and discuss their work. The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funded grant program, is managed by the Cook County Justice Advisory Council (JAC). This new grant initiative was designed as a direct response to the increased levels of gun violence experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic. The grant program prioritizes community areas and municipalities in Cook County that have endured the highest rates of gun violence. In total, nearly $75 million in grants were approved by the Cook County Board of Commissioners for this round of funding. Under the grant initiative, 34 awards were made to individual organizations and coalitions providing an array of evidence-based violence prevention services including street outreach, case management, counseling and mental health services, employment support and youth programming. Work will be carried out by 68 separate organizations funded through this initiative.