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| Memorandum
To:             Applicants for Weed and Seed Site Official Recognition for the Year 2000
From:         Stephen Rickman                  Director, Executive Office for Weed and Seed
Subject:      The Weed and Seed Official Recognition Process for 2000
Official Recognition of a local Weedand Seed strategy by the Executive Office for Weed and Seed (EOWS) is designedto affirm the constructive efforts of the local community and to help asite in its efforts to leverage other resources.  The process of coordinating,planning, and implementing a Weed and Seed strategy has often proven tobe beneficial in itself; and the working relationships which grow out ofthe coordination process in the long run can be worth much more than thegrant funding which a site may eventually receive. 
Applicants should understand thatnew site funding may not be available immediately within expected appropriationslevels.  Given the rapid growth of interest in the Weed and Seed strategy,the provision of DOJ funding to additional sites may have to be limitedbased on a consideration of factors such as the seriousness of the crimeproblem in a site, the site�s capacity to implement the strategy, coordinationwith related federal initiatives, and other relevant factors. 
The Attached Guidelines Have JustBeen Revised.   A Weed and Seed strategy must be developed inaccordance with EOWS Official Recognition guidelines.  These guidelineshave just been revised based on experience with the strategy.  Theycontinue to stress the importance of coordination with local leaders, serviceproviders, and site residents.   They also continue to providethat the strategy be developed in coordination with the site�s local U.S.Attorney�s Office.
New Letter of Intent Requirement. To facilitate early participation by our staff in advising and monitoringthe development of your new strategy, we are requiring a Letter of Intentto Apply  for Official Recognition that must be submitted to EOWSby the prospective applicant, co-signed by the U.S. Attorney, (postmarked)by **October 2, 2000**.  Sites whichdo not meet this requirement cannot be guaranteed consideration for fundingin FY 2001 (assuming that such funding is available); however, they canstill be considered for funding in a future year (subject to the availabilityof funds). 
To be eligiblefor funding in Fiscal Year 2001, all sites which have received Weed andSeed funding for 5 fiscal years are required to submit a full new applicationfor Official Recognition by November 30, 2000.  In developingtheir new Official Recognition submissions, these sites are encouragedto replicate the Weed and Seed strategy in new areas of their jurisdiction. To maintain the program in their current area(s), they must present a strongcase for the consideration of the Executive Office for Weed and Seed.  This requirement was initially announced in the Weed and Seed FY2000 ProgramGuide and Application Kit.  A list of the sites affectedby this requirement is attached.
Applications for Official Recognitionmust be accompanied by a transmittal letter from the U.S. Attorney. Applications for Official Recognition must be submitted to EOWS (postmarked)by **November 30, 2000**.  All submissionsshould be addressed to the Executive Office for Weed and Seed, 810 7thStreet, N.W., 6th floor, Washington, D.C. 20531.
Thank you for your interest in theWeed and Seed strategy.  Please call our staff at (202)616-1152, or e-mail,with any questions concerning this application process.    TheFY 2000 Weed and Seed Application Kits provided notice that:
 �To be eligible for fundingin Fiscal Year 2001, all sites which have received Weed and Seed fundingfor 5 fiscal years will be required to submit a full new application forOfficial Recognition by November 30, 2000.�
 �In developing their new OfficialRecognition submissions, these sites are encouraged to replicate the Weedand Seed strategy in new areas of their jurisdiction; however, they mustpresent a strong case for maintaining their current area(s) for the considerationof the Executive Office for Weed and Seed.� 
Sites that needto apply for Official Recognition by November 30, 2000 to be eligible forconsideration for FY 2001 funding are as follows:
(This applies to the initial sitewhere there is more than one site in the listed jurisdiction)
1.  Benton Harbor, Michigan2.  Birmingham, Alabama3.  Boston, Massachusetts4.  Brevard County, Florida5.  Bridgeport, Connecticut6.  Buffalo, New York7. Chattanooga, Tennessee8. Clearwater, Florida9. Corpus Christi I, Texas10. Des Moines, Iowa11. Dyersburg, Tennessee12. East Dallas, Texas13. Fort Lauderdale, Florida14. Fort Myers, Florida15. Fresno County, California16. Gainesville, Florida17. Grand Rapids, Michigan18. Greensboro, North Carolina19. Jacksonville, Florida20. Lima, Ohio21. Miami, Florida22. Muskegon/Muskegon Heights, Michigan23. New Bern, North Carolina24. New Britain, Connecticut25. New Orleans, Louisiana (Treme)26. Northwest Austin, Illinois27. Norwalk, Connecticut28. Oakland, California29. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma30. Orlando, Florida31. Polk County, Florida32. Portland, Oregon33. Raleigh, North Carolina34. Richmond, Virginia35. Rochester, New York36. St. Louis, Missouri37. Salt Lake City, Utah38. Springfield, Illinois39. Syracuse, New York40. Tallahassee, Florida41. Volusia County, Florida42. West Palm Beach, Florida43. Wichita, Kansas               |
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