Wisconsin Launches $10 Million Violence-Prevention Grant Program to Support Schools and Reduce Crime, Gov. Evers Announces
MADISON, WISCONSIN — Governor Tony Evers and the Wisconsin Office of Violence Prevention (WOVP) have introduced a major new grant program aimed at tackling crime, school violence, and community trauma across the state. The initiative, backed by nearly $10 million in federal funding, will support school districts and organizations focused on preventing violence, addressing gun safety, and protecting children.
Grant Program Created After Statewide Call for Youth Safety
The Office of Violence Prevention was created earlier this year after Gov. Evers declared 2025 “The Year of the Kid,” following a school shooting at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison. The new grant program expands statewide resources for schools, law enforcement agencies, nonprofits, firearm retailers, and domestic-violence support organizations.
Though Gov. Evers previously sought long-term state funding for WOVP and gun-safety initiatives in the 2025–27 Executive Budget, the Wisconsin Legislature rejected those proposals, leaving federal dollars to anchor the launch of the program.
Evers: “These investments are critical to breaking cycles of violence”
Gov. Evers emphasized that safety efforts must be community-driven and coordinated across sectors:
“There is much work we can do to help stop violence wherever and whenever it happens — that’s work we must all do together,” Evers said. “These grants will work to address the cycles of violence and crime that traumatize kids, families, and our communities by providing critical, on-the-ground support for our schools, organizations working to help domestic violence survivors, law enforcement, and firearm retailers.”
The governor noted that many gun purchases begin with retailers, making their involvement an important piece of statewide prevention.
Office of Violence Prevention: $10M Will Support Statewide Safety Efforts
Amanda Powers, the director of WOVP, said the new funding strengthens the state’s commitment to proactive safety initiatives.
“Through this grant, $10 million will further support critical violence and gun-violence prevention efforts in communities across Wisconsin,” Powers said. “These funds will have an impact across the state and ensure that we are focused on interrupting violence, preventing suicide, and reducing harm.”
What the Office of Violence Prevention Will Do
According to the Evers administration, WOVP is responsible for:
- Coordinating statewide and local government agencies, including law enforcement, for violence-prevention strategies.
- Supporting community-based prevention and intervention programs, including youth-focused organizations.
- Administering grants to school districts, firearm dealers, law enforcement, nonprofits, and government agencies.
- Developing public-education campaigns focused on community safety.
- Identifying opportunities to strengthen statewide policies, laws, and preventative systems.
Officials say the goal is a whole-of-government approach that connects early intervention, mental-health awareness, gun-safety education, and crisis-response support.
Wisconsin continues to expand violence-prevention efforts at a time when communities nationwide are reassessing how schools, families, health agencies, and law enforcement can better work together. ChicagoMusicGuide.com will track updates as grant awards begin rolling out across the state.