CONTACT: Tom Carson, Public Information Office, (203) 821-3722, (203) 996-1393 (cell)

Kevin J. O'Connor, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that the Upper Albany and Clay-Arsenal neighborhoods of Hartford, Connecticut, have been recognized jointly as an official Weed and Seed site. Earlier this week, the Department of Justice's Office of Justice Programs announced official recognition of new Weed and Seed sites in 22 communities across the United States. The Hartford site is the only one in New England to have been so recognized.

Official recognition of a site is the first step in a highly competitive Weed and Seed grant application process. To be officially recognized means that community representatives have developed a highly detailed crime prevention and restoration strategy that has passed an intensive review procedure. Sites that are officially recognized receive preference in receiving discretionary resources from various federal agencies. They are also given priority positions to participate in federally-sponsored training, and they are eligible to apply for Weed and Seed funds. Although a funding award is not guaranteed, official recognition is an essential step before funding will be considered.

Administered by the Office of Justice Program's Community Capacity Development Office, Weed and Seed seeks to weed out violent crime and gang activity and seed the community with social services and economic revitalization. The strategy emphasizes four principles: Aggressive law enforcement strategies; community policing; the provision of crime prevention, intervention, and treatment services; and neighborhood restoration and revitalization activities.

U.S. Attorney O'Connor, working closely with Hartford Police Chief Patrick J. Harnett, will lead the Weed and Seed strategy in Hartford by bringing together federal, state, and local crime-fighting agencies, social service providers, representatives of public and private sectors, business owners, and neighborhood residents.

"This official recognition is a credit to all of the community representatives, merchants, educators, and others who have been working so diligently on this project since early 2004," U.S. Attorney O'Connor stated. "This Office's looks forward to working closely with Site's steering committee in order to improve the quality of life in these two Hartford neighborhoods."

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