The federal government is providing $2.7 million to help divert Windsor's youth from crime and gangs.
The majority of the funds will go to two organizations, New Beginnings and Youth Diversion, to expand programming for at-risk youth.
"A lot of this has to do with self-esteem, peer pressure, goal setting," said Joanna Conrad, CEO of Youth Diversion. "We provide a rebound program. It's a social skills program that addresses a number of these different issues."
The City of Windsor will issue a request for proposals next month for other community groups to tap into the funding.
"We recognize that there are probably other community partners, other organizations that could also benefit from this funding and deliver maybe new, alternative or innovative solutions within our community," said Andrew Daher, Commissioner of Human and Health Services for the City of Windsor.
The $2.7 million in funding from the Building Safer Community Fund will be distributed over four years.
"The best way to prevent gang and gun violence of the future is to do the work today," said Windsor-Tecumseh MP Irek Kusmierczyk. "It's about providing our young people that wrap-around support, early on."
