Aurora will receive grant to fight west-side crime

Federal funding for crime-fighting efforts in Aurora will continue next year, this time with an initiative that targets the city's west side.

For the past five years, the U.S. Department of Justice has awarded the East Aurora Weed and Seed program annual grants totaling more than $1 million.

The money has funded efforts like special law enforcement operations, youth programs and building restoration projects.

Now, the new West Aurora Weed and Seed program has been launched, with organizers recently announcing a $175,000 grant.

The Kane County state's attorney's office oversees the Weed and Seed sites. The grants are awarded to an area based on crime statistics. Leaders can apply for funding each year for up to five years.

West Aurora is one of only 38 new Weed and Seed sites nationwide. There are more than 300 such communities or neighborhoods across the country.

After seeing the success of the city's east-side effort, organizers are expecting the west campaign to follow suit.

The East Aurora Weed and Seed initiative featured residents, city and county leaders, law enforcement officials, businesses and service groups working together to cut crime.

"It's weeding out the crime and seeding in community development," said Weed and Seed coordinator Pamela Bradley of the Kane County state's attorney's office.

In the last five years, about $200,000 helped fund prevention and intervention programs like The Boys II Men Fraternity, the Quad County Urban League's Remedial Program and Fox Valley Girl Scouts.

About $225,000 funded special operations initiatives, such as warrant checks and prostitution crackdowns.

Kane County Sheriff Patrick Perez said a recent operation with his patrol division resulted in seven arrests, and officials will use similar strategies on the west side.

The combined efforts resulted in a 60 percent decrease in shootings on the city's east side, Bradley said.

With funding ending Sept. 30, the area has now achieved "graduated status" and is eligible for other federal grants, she said.