BRAINTREE, Mass. (WWLP) - The Healey-Driscoll Administration has announced that over $11 million has been awarded to support violence prevention in public housing sites across the state. School districts face decisions in wake of Question 2 These funds have been awarded through the FY25 Shannon Community Safety Initiative (Shannon CSI), which is an important tool to help communities build collaborative programs to improve safety and reduce gang violence. The funds within this grant program are managed and administered by the Office of Grants and Research (OGR). The 15 program sites were awarded grants totaling approximately $11,179,673, and each site will receive support from a Local Action Research Partner (LARP). LARP assists with strategic planning, critical analysis, and continuous feedback to help support program operations and ensure that funded programs remain within schedule and budget. The selected LARPs will share $785,543 in additional funding. These cities were awarded FY25 Shannon CSI funding: Holyoke/Chicopee - $606,446 Pittsfield - $439,015 Springfield - $1,247,411 Program sites that will receive support from the following research partners, who were awarded funds through the FY25 Shannon CSI LARP program: CERTE INC, Amherst - Holyoke/Chicopee - $77,550 Salem State University - Springfield - $46,475 Westfield State University - Pittsfield - $32,300 “Preventing violence among young people is critical to ensuring the future well-being of our youth and the safety of our communities,” said Governor Maura Healey. “This work requires collaboration among law enforcement, state and local officials, youth-serving nonprofits, and research partners to help ensure funds have the greatest positive impact. The partnerships built through the Shannon Community Safety Initiative are among the strongest tools we have to prevent youth and gang-related violence in Massachusetts.” “The lasting success of grant-funded program sites demonstrates the remarkable outcomes we can achieve when collaborating to support our youth,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “Each program site has forged strong partnerships across disciplines while applying evidence-based approaches to ensure young people can access beneficial programming and essential services that enhance their wellbeing and ensure the safety of Massachusetts communities.” “Youth violence significantly affects victims, their families, and entire communities. Building strong partnerships and implementing collaborative, results-oriented solutions are the most effective ways to tackle the complex issues that contribute to gun violence,” said Secretary of Public Safety and Security Terrence Reidy. “The Shannon CSI reflects the administration’s deep commitment to offering resources that support the steadfast efforts and community collaborations aimed at enhancing safety, decreasing gun violence, and fostering youth engagement.” “This program utilizes nationally recognized best practices to support youth and communities that are impacted by gang violence. By partnering nonprofits, police, public housing officials and other local leaders with researchers and support from the Office of Grants and Research, we’ve achieved long term success preventing youth violence in Massachusetts communities,” said OGR Executive Director Kevin Stanton. Local News Headlines Massachusetts awards over $11 million to combat youth violence Sick of holiday movies? Watch these “anti-Christmas” films instead Groom wins $1M on Massachusetts scratch ticket Captain Nate brings 20 years of caroling tradition to Northampton WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.