Seven communities in the Western District of Wisconsin are getting federal grants to fight gang and gun violence.
The US Attorney's office is handing out the grants worth a quarter of a million dollars to law enforcement agencies from Rock County to Superior.
Erik Peterson, the US Attorney for the Western district, says the beauty of these Project safe Neighborhood grants is that local communities can decide for themselves how to actually spend the money depending on the level and type of violence in their area. Madison's problem will be different than Superior's.
Peterson says it the past it's been used for more investigators, training, overtime or community outreach programs.
Peterson believes the six year old project is having a positive impact.
AUDIO: Jim Dick reports ( 1:16 MP3 )
