NCJ Number
171137
Date Published
1997
Length
30 pages
Annotation
Recognizing law enforcement alone is not enough to control crime, Weed and Seed programs are designed to combine crime reduction and prevention with economic development activities.
Abstract
Since 1991, Weed and Seed has funded programs in more than 100 cities to control and prevent crime through a variety of approaches, including economic development strategies. The National Congress for Community Economic Development (NCCED) is the national trade association for organizations committed to revitalizing distressed urban and rural communities. Founded in 1970, the NCCED is committed to providing technical assistance by experts in community economic development, publishing useful studies and development materials, educating through conferences and symposia, reviewing public policies, promoting the field and working to increase public and private resources, brokering mentor-apprentice relationships for learning and personal and institutional growth, and sponsoring important demonstration projects. The NCCED has developed guidelines to link initial crime prevention activities of Weed and Seed programs to sustainable community building strategies. The guidelines identify some of the ways communities can build on their initial activities under Weed and Seed programs to achieve positive economic change and indicate community efforts require organizing, planning, resource development, and partnership building. The use of community development corporations (CDCs) and steps in becoming a CDC are described, and the CDC is viewed as an outcome of strategic planning and as a framework for community economic development (CED). Steps associated with conducting a community asset inventory and tools to aid the CED planning process are identified, and a list of resources is included. 3 exhibits