The state grant pays for teen jobs, free gun locks and neighborhood outreach. It arrives after a year that began with a spike in homicides.

Roanoke, VA

Author: Roanoke Rambler Staff

Published: 8:41 AM EST September 30, 2026

Edited: 8:51 AM EST September 30, 2026

Listen Here: Roanokesradio.com

In the beginning of the year by March, Roanoke was on pace from one of its deadliest years, with seven homicides in the first three months.

Things have slowed since then. As of mid-September, the city had recorded 11 homicides this year. At the halfway point of the year, police said violent crime was down 13% compared with the same period in 2025.

Now the city has a large new sum to put toward keeping that trend going.

On Sept. 21, Roanoke City Council accepted and appropriated a $2,951,158 Safer Communities grant from the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services, according to the city. Roanoke is one of nine Virginia cities selected for the money. This is the city's second round of funding; the first came in 2025.

"The Safer Communities grant recognizes that lasting safety comes when the whole community is part of the solution," City Manager Valmarie Turner said in the city's announcement. "We're using these funds to connect young people and families with resources, strengthen partnerships, and address the conditions that can lead to violence before harm occurs."

That's the idea behind the program: stop violence before it happens, not just respond afterward. Here's what it has paid for, who it reaches, and what to watch next.

Why Roanoke Qualifies

Virginia lawmakers created the Safer Communities Program in 2023 to fund "holistic, community-based strategies that address the root causes and conditions of community violence." The state lists approved strategies including:

• After-school programs and mentorships
• Connections to education and jobs
• Trauma-informed mental health case management
• "Credible messengers and violence interrupters," meaning trusted community members who step in to calm conflicts
• Efforts to build trust between police and residents

At first only four cities were eligible: Norfolk, Portsmouth, Richmond and Roanoke. In June the state's two-year budget passed, and the program officially expanded to five more cities: Danville, Hampton, Hopewell, Newport News and Petersburg.

A House Appropriations subcommittee report on that expansion described the nine as the Virginia localities "with the highest rates of firearm-related violence in the Commonwealth."

Put simply, Roanoke gets this money because the state counts it among Virginia's hardest-hit cities for gun violence.

Where the Money has Gone

In past years the grant has funded Roanoke Police Department community outreach, the Gun Lock Ambassador program and the Teen Apprenticeship program, among other efforts, the city says.

Paid Kobs for Teens.

The Teen Apprenticeship Program is a paid workforce and mentorship program for youth ages 14 to 18. Participants complete eight weeks of job-skills training, then move into paid summer apprenticeships in city departments such as Parks and Recreation, Public Works, Technology, Public Safety and General Services. Apprentices earn $15 an hour during both classroom training and fieldwork. The program isn't open to everyone. It serves teens in the city's RESET program (short for Rapid Engagement of Support in the Event of Trauma) and teens referred through the juvenile justice system. According to a state report, 16 teens graduated in the first quarter of 2026 and began on-the-job training with the city.

Free Gun Locks

Residents can sign up as Gun Lock Ambassadors. They register online, watch a 15-minute gun-safety video and receive free gun locks to hand out in the community. Separately, nonprofit organizations can use a city form to request up to 100 free gun locks to distribute at events.

Help After Trauma

State reports show how many people the city's RESET program reaches. From January through March 2026, it served 53 youth and 140 families. From April through June, it served 158 youth and 156 families. In that second quarter, Roanoke also held 12 community events, bringing its fiscal-year total to 70, and the Roanoke Sheriff's Office made 128 referrals to community services.

The results so far look promising, but there's a reason to watch how this money is spent.

In March, a city internal audit found problems with a different grant. That money came from the Virginia Attorney General's Office and was spent through the Police Department's RESET program. The audit found that spending on the $300,000 grant reached $394,371, which was $94,371 over budget, WSLS reported. Auditors also flagged a vendor paid $62,638 for mentoring services with no contract in place, instances of double-billing and six child labor law violations. They concluded that "the mentor program did not ensure the safety of mentees."

The Police Department told reporters that the private vendor arrangement ended in fall 2025 and that mentoring now uses city employees.

To be clear: the audit did not involve the Safer Communities grant. But both efforts share a goal, and some of the same RESET work, so how the city handles nearly $3 million in new money deserves attention. The state is watching too. Its Office of Safer Communities trained grantees in May on what to expect from desk reviews and site visits.

What to Watch Next

• Results, not just activity. Counts of events and referrals show effort. Residents should also ask whether shootings are falling in the neighborhoods the programs target.
• Where the money actually goes. The city's announcement doesn't break down this year's $2.95 million by program. That breakdown is the next question for City Hall.
• Your chance to weigh in. You can watch the Sept. 21 council discussion on the city's YouTube channel or in person.

How to Get Involved

• Get free gun locks or become an ambassador: Register through the Gun Lock Ambassador program at bit.ly/lockambassador
• Nonprofits: Request up to 100 locks through the city's "Lock in Safety. Unlock Hope." form.
• Families: The Teen Apprenticeship Program takes teens through RESET or juvenile-justice referrals. Learn more on the city's Star City Safe page.

The Roanoke Rambler