Purpose

The Community Action Partnership of Mercer County coordinates the Weed and Seed Program to combat crime and promote community revitalization.

Description

The Community Action Partnership of Mercer County (CAPMC) promotes Community Revitalization through the Weed and Seed Program, which the agency coordinates for the Sharon/Farrell Target Area. The program includes:

• Weed – Collaborative law enforcement between local and state crime fighting teams to eliminate drugs and violence in targeted neighborhoods.
• Seed – Prevention, intervention, treatment, and revitalization services through partnerships with other nonprofits, community-based, and faith-based organizations.

This initiative is part of the Pennsylvania Weed and Seed effort that has focused on smaller communities that, nevertheless, face significant challenges to quality of life arising from crime and poverty.  Funding is through the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency that administers a pool of state funding to help communities that might not otherwise be able to access federal Weed and Seed monies.  Nationally, Weed and Seed is funded through the U.S. Dept. of Justice Weed and Seed Program.  One-half of the dollars awarded in the national initiative must go to policing efforts and there is no mandate for resident/citizen empowerment (training, etc.).

Elm Street Plan for Sharon/Farrell

Strengthening local leadership and increasing resident involvement are key elements of CAPMC Weed and Seed efforts to ensure that Weed and Seed absolutely works as a community-driven initiative.  After initial efforts were underway, the community revitalization initiative was expanded through involvement with the Pennsylvania Elm Street Program that promotes linking revitalization efforts with those in adjacent/nearby Main Streets/downtowns.

The initial Elm Street Plan for Sharon/Farrell focused on issues to be addressed through integrated strategies under the following goals:

• Increase pedestrian access throughout Elm Street areas while enhancing its visual aesthetics
• Improve community living by enhancing neighborhoods, increasing safety, and involving residents
• Improve the perceived and visual image of local Elm Street neighborhoods
• Maintain a sustainable Elm Street administrative process for Cities of Sharon and Farrell
• Improve property conditions and maintain/increase housing stock in Elm Street areas

A new five-year plan was developed in 2009 - Sharon/Farrell Weed and Seed Five Year Revitalization Plan:

• Law Enforcement
• Community Policing
• Prevention, Intervention & Treatment
• Neighborhood Restoration

• Shenango Valley Urban League
• Catholic Charities Counseling and Adoption Service
• Endorse Resistance to All Substance Abuse Everywhere - ERASE Anti-Drug Coalition
• Prince of Peace Center
• Penn State University Cooperative Extension
• United Way of Mercer County
• Mercer County Housing Authority
• Mercer County Behavioral Health Commission
• Farrell Area School District
• Sharon School District
• Shenango Valley Initiative
• Neighborhood Family Intervention Center
• Mercer County Juvenile Probation and Parole
• Mercer County District Attorney’s Office
• Mercer County Commissioner’s Office

Some of specific activities carried out through the Weed and Seed/Elm Street Plan have included:

• Increased policing and law enforcement
• Increased code enforcement
• Demolition of blighted properties
• Playground improvements
• After-school programs using SAMHSA evidence-based models
• Reality Tour – a monthly drug prevention program implemented by volunteers

Neighborhood residents are also provided with the opportunity to participate in the BEST Program (Business Education Self-Sufficiency Training) offered by CAPMC.  BEST is a 10-week training course that uses the Microbusiness Program Development Model known as ASSETS developed by MEDA (Mennonite Economic Development Associates).

An annual meeting is held to highlight Weed and Seed accomplishments.  Efforts are also made to build ongoing media coverage as found in these examples:

• Local Entrepreneurs Finish Training Course – The Herald (July 30, 2006)
• Weed and Seed Agencies Cite Program Successes – The Herald (July 27, 2006)
• Juneteenth Celebration Brings Out Community – The Herald (June 17, 2006)
• Drug Sentencing Spurs Cleanup of Neighborhoods – Post-Gazette.com (October 10, 2003)
• Residents Prep for Role to Revitalize Local Cities – The Herald (January 13, 2002)

Outcomes

90% of low income residents who received I-LEAD training continue to be active in volunteer work in their community after three years. 

100% of agencies who began collaborative programs in 2002 (initial funding for projects) continue to work on collaborative projects to date.