April 26, 2017

For Immediate Release

Statement of Prince George’s County Councilman Mel Franklin on the New County Council $500,000 Domestic Violence Funding Initiative

Councilman Highlights the Need to Provide More Services to Survivors throughout the County

Contact: Mel@melfranklin.net

Upper Marlboro, MD – On Tuesday, April 25, the Prince George’s County Council announced a new fiscal year 2017 $500,000 domestic violence grant funding initiative for nonprofits in the County to help reduce the incidence of domestic violence.  In recent years, Prince George’s County has led the State of Maryland in reported domestic violence cases.  A report by the County’s CountyStat Office determined that the County has a particular shortage in services for domestic violence survivors in southern Prince George’s County (“South County”) despite having a higher concentration of domestic violence calls for assistance coming from that area.  Councilman Mel Franklin (D-District 9), whose office has a longstanding partnership with Clinton-based domestic violence service provider Still I Rise, Inc., issued the following statement:

“I am pleased to see the public announcement for the County Council’s $500,000 domestic violence grant funding initiative.  If sustained annually, this effort has the potential to make a serious difference in assisting our domestic violence service providers in reducing and eliminating the scourge of domestic violence in Prince George’s County.  While we have seen record reductions in crime in nearly every other category, domestic violence continues to occur in our communities at very high levels, especially in South County.  We must not rest until we provide all of the necessary resources for domestic violence survivors and their families to get the help they need and to stop the cycle of domestic violence in our county.”

The County Council has provided necessary information regarding the grant application process on its website athttp://pgccouncil.us/556/Domestic-Violence-Grant-Program.  On Thursday, April 27, interested nonprofits are invited to a pre-proposal conference for prospective bidders at 10AM-11AM, County Administration Building, 14741 Governor Oden Bowie Drive, 2nd Floor, Zoning Hearing Examiner Room, Room 2027, Upper Marlboro, MD 20772.  Attendees should RSVP with Sharon Williams by e-mail at SPWilliams@co.pg.md.us or call 301-952-3919.  Grant proposals are due on May 10 at 5PM.

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