 Washington's Office of Firearm Safety and Violence Prevention is working in partnership with communities to combat gun violence "While mass shootings such as the most recent incidents in Buffalo and Uvalde garner media attention across the country, we must recognize that an average of two deaths and many more injuries occur from firearms right here in Washington state every day. These tragedies can be prevented." Commerce Director Lisa Brown The Washington State Office of Firearm Safety and Violence Prevention, part of the Department of Commerce, is working in partnership with our local communities to combat gun violence. "With the support of Governor Inslee and legislators, Washington State's Office of Firearm Safety and Violence Prevention is supporting promising practices in communities throughout the state to intervene in and prevent firearm violence using a public health lens," said Kate Kelly, the office's Executive Director, noting incremental progress Washington has made as a state in changing and implementing laws on high-capacity magazine sales, background checks, and extreme-risk protection orders. Kelly pointed to the many firearms deaths and injuries that we don't hear about through the media, including suicide (75% of firearms-related deaths in Washington) and persistent homicides in some of our most vulnerable neighborhoods, among some of our most vulnerable populations, across the state. These are one focus of the efforts of the OFSVP working with government and organizational partners in tackling firearm violence through community-based programs.  KXLY in Spokane interviewed Kate Kelly and Dr. Frederick Rivara, Director of the Firearm Injury and Policy Research Program at the University of Washington, about our state's data-driven approach to identifying high-risk neighborhoods and people, in order to focus intervention efforts. Watch KXLY video | "People often feel helpless, but there are things each of us can do today, on a practical level, to make a difference," Kelly said. She pointed to helping prevent suicides in our communities or families by spreading the word about suicide prevention resources or implementing safe firearms practices in our own homes, such as King County's Lock it Up program promoting safe storage. The Washington Legislature established the state's Office of Firearm Safety and Violence Prevention in the Department of Commerce's Community Services Division in 2020 to lead statewide efforts to implement evidence-based policies, strategies and interventions in communities with a goal of better understanding and reducing firearm violence. The office works hand-in-hand with policymakers, public health officials, government entities, law enforcement agencies, researchers, community organizations and individual community members. Partnering with the University of Washington Forearm Injury and Policy Research Program, they compiled an inventory and descriptions of existing sources of Washington firearms-related data. Read OFSVP's initial report to the Legislature and learn more on Commerce's Medium site.  Everyone's story matters. Do you have experience with gun violence? Please share your story and help the Washington Office of Firearm Safety and Violence Prevention better understand how to distribute funding resources. Call 425-977-0797 and follow the prompts. All information is anonymous. | Upcoming Events - Behavioral Health Facilities programs have new capital grant applications open now and later this summer. Learn more
- OPEN NOW:
Crisis Triage and Stabilization – Trueblood Phase 2. Informational meeting June 2. Learn more - Opening in June:
Enhanced Services Facilities (ESF)
Mental Health Peer Respite
90- and-180-day Civil Commitment Facilities
Intensive Behavioral Health Treatment Facilities - Building for the Arts capital grants up to $2 million to performing arts, museums and cultural organizations for acquisition or new construction. OPEN NOW. Learn more
- Building Communities Fund grants OPEN NOW. Virtual workshop June 15. Learn more
- Connecting Housing to Infrastructure (CHIP) grants - Third round application opening this summer. Learn more
- Several Growth Management Planning grant applications for local governments OPEN NOW and later this summer. Learn more
- The Housing Trust Fund has multiple programs and funding cycles throughout the year. For complete information visit "Applying to the Housing Trust Fund."
- State Project Improvement grants for energy retrofits in public buildings. OPEN NOW for state agencies. Learn more
- Working Washington grants - Round 5 of emergency relief grants for businesses and non-profits, including arts organizations, opening this summer. Learn more
Stay informed Subscribe to our "Open Grants, Loans and RFPs" topic list to get email and/or SMS text updates on all open funding opportunities with Commerce.  Feds grant $3.9 million for "brownfields" redevelopment Washington state's Brownfield Revolving Loan Fund (BRLF) recently received a $3.9-million grant from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to assist clean up and redevelopment projects on "brownfield" sites statewide. A brownfield is property commonly used for industrial purposes, such as former gas stations or dry cleaners, which are polluted and require environmental revitalization so that they be redeveloped. This grant is part of a historic $1.5 billion nationwide investment to aid brownfield site redevelopment. The federal program provides states capital needed to revitalize viable brownfield sites and spur environmental and economic renewal with a focus on disadvantaged communities. Learn more  Askew joins tourism advisory committee Sam Askew, Executive Director of Resort Operations at Northern Quest Resort and Casino, has been appointed to the Washington Tourism Marketing Authority Advisory Committee. Askew fills a vacant position on the four-person committee reserved for representing the interests and perspectives of Washington's Tribal communities. Read more |  Youth homelessness in the spotlight Kim Justice, executive director of the our Office of Homeless Youth Prevention and Protection, appeared on Inside Olympia with A Way Home Washington's Julie Patino to talk about homelessness among school-aged youth and young adults and what we're doing to help. Watch video | Strengthening Communities: Whatcom County Norway's Corvus Energy to expand, open new facility in Bellingham  Congratulations to the Port of Bellingham and their partners on being selected by Norway's Corvus Energy for its first U.S. manufacturing facility. Corvus Energy is the leading supplier of battery energy storage systems (BESS) for marine applications. The new operation will support demand for marine BESS in the Americas as the marine industry accelerates its adoption of decarbonization technology to meet global greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets. Read more |  Commerce provided support to the Port from the state's economic development strategic reserve fund to assist with building renovations at the site. Looking beyond our borders to join with global leaders like Corvus Energy is a key element of our strategy to grow strong, diverse regional economies through innovation. Watch video |  Homeless families with children in Bellingham have a place call home at Heart House Commerce's Nate Lichti and Fiagata Phillips joined in the celebration of the grand opening of Heart House in Bellingham, owned and operated by Lydia Place. We are proud to support this project that will serve families and children in the Whatcom County community with 11 permanent supportive housing units and a licensed daycare on site. The Housing Trust Fund provided $5 million to help bring the dream of Heart House to reality. | Are you passionate about making a difference? Think about joining Team Commerce.  We are a mobile-friendly workplace with a "headquarters and hubs" hybrid office model. Most positions can work from anywhere in Washington. Check out current opportunities at Commerce. | 
No comments:
Post a Comment