OIC Partners with Community to Address Gun Violence Despite Grant Termination

The Springfield City Council held a work session on July 15, 2025, focusing on updates regarding the Organization for Intercommunity (OIC) programming. The meeting highlighted significant developments in community initiatives aimed at addressing gun violence and supporting local organizations.

The OIC reported that since 2023, it has processed 1,041 applications and distributed $1.3 million in reimbursements to partner organizations, providing services to qualifying individuals at no cost. This effort has been accompanied by fiscal oversight to ensure accountability in the distribution of funds.

In 2023, OIC was designated as the fiduciary agent for a collaborative initiative involving nine partnering agencies to tackle gun violence in the community. This initiative, known as the Community Violence Intervention and Prevention Initiative (CVI PI), was sparked by concerns from Judge Lancaster of the juvenile court regarding the increasing prevalence of gun-related charges among youth. The initiative brought together various organizations, including the Springfield City Police, Clark County Juvenile Court, Springfield City School District, and the NAACP, to develop solutions collaboratively.

OIC successfully applied for a federal grant through the Department of Justice, with Case Western Reserve University engaged to conduct a community needs assessment. A full-time coordinator was hired to oversee the project, and strategic planning was completed with all participating organizations. However, after submitting a budget revision in November 2024, the grant was unexpectedly terminated in April 2025, affecting 3,197 grants nationwide, including over 80 related to gun violence.

The OIC clarified that the delay in publishing the strategic plan was due to the timing of the budget approval and the subsequent termination of the grant, emphasizing that transparency was maintained throughout the process. Following the termination, OIC filed an appeal and has since incurred $400,000 in expenses related to the project, with ongoing communication efforts to clarify the situation with the grant manager.

As the meeting concluded, OIC expressed a desire to refocus on its core mission and continue supporting local organizations in their efforts to improve community safety and well-being.