This amendment increases by $3.5 million from the general fund each year funds for the Safer Communities Program administered by the Department of Criminal Justice Services, which provides targeted grants and technical assistance to localities with disproportionately high violent crime rates. Language expands grant eligibility to the City of Roanoke, in addition to continuing grant funding for the Cities of Norfolk, Richmond, and Portsmouth. The amount includes $425,000 from the general fund the first year and $400,000 from the general fund the second year for the Office of Safer Communities to contract with the VCU Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs, who may collaborate Virginia State University and Norfolk State University, to work with community violence reduction grantees to provide strategic planning, program evaluation, and data-driven innovations to improve the public sector's response to community violence.