Whether its porch pirates, car thieves or chronic speeders, the Phoenix Police Department is offering grant money to make your neighborhood safer.
"I have a pretty good idea from the driving the streets and paying attention to what's up and who's suppose to be there or not. The only people who are suppose to be in that ally are utility workers and who lives on that block," said Stan Bates, who helps run the block watch in his neighborhood.
Bates has been through both Phoenix Police Department's neighborhood patrol program and most recently their Block Watch Grant Program training workshop.
The Block Watch Grant Training Program has helped his block watch get needed money for safety improvements.
"We had a grant a year ago that we used to buy (block watch) signs that we started putting up throughout the neighborhood, and out of this year’s grant we got new sign toppers," explained Bates.
"We're very passionate about working with the community and crime prevention," said block watch grant coordinator Stacy Osborne-Fry.
The program encourages neighbors to get to know each other through block watch or GAIN (Getting Arizona Involved in Neighborhoods) activities.
Neighborhoods can get anywhere from a thousand to ten thousand dollars, depending on their need and involvement or how many times they meet a year to promote safety and crime prevention within their communities.
"These are opportunities for neighbors to engage neighbors and talk about what they can do to better their community and neighborhoods," said Osborne-Fry.
You will have to present a budget, but Phoenix Police staff will take you through the entire grant application process in their workshops.
The next workshop is scheduled for:
Tuesday, November 28, 2017
South Mountain Community College Library
7050 South 24th St, Phoenix, AZ, 85042
Two times: 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.
Bates tells ABC15, it's absolutely worth the time and effort to learn.
"We got $9,500 dollars last year we wouldn't have got otherwise. We're proud of this neighborhood and by having neighbors that care we have a fairly low crime rate."
The deadline to submit an application is December 7.
For more information on the program CLICK HERE.
