WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Senators Olympia J. Snowe (R-ME) and Susan Collins (R-ME) today announced that the Community Capacity Development Office in the U.S. Department of Justice has awarded Volunteers of America a $225,000 grant for the continuation of its Weed & Seed Program in Sagadahoc County. “We are pleased with the contributions of the Sagadahoc County Weed & Seed Program in reducing crime, juvenile offenses, illegal drug use, and domestic violence,” Senators Snowe and Collins said in a joint statement. “This type of community involvement in local law enforcement efforts is truly indispensable and undoubtedly makes those neighborhoods involved safer places to live.” Weed and Seed is a community-based strategy sponsored by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and is an innovative, comprehensive multi-agency approach to law enforcement, crime prevention, and community revitalization. The Community Capacity Development Office (CCDO) in the DOJ oversees the Weed and Seed initiative. The program aims to prevent, control, and reduce violent crime, drug abuse, and gang activity in designated high-crime neighborhoods across the country. The more than 300 Weed and Seed sites range in size from several neighborhood blocks to several square miles, with populations ranging from 3,000 to 50,000. The strategy involves a two-pronged approach: law enforcement agencies and prosecutors cooperate in "weeding out" violent criminals and drug abusers, and public agencies and community-based private organizations collaborate to "seed" much-needed human services, including prevention, intervention, treatment, and neighborhood restoration programs. A community-oriented policing component bridges the weeding and seeding elements.