VA HB947

Establishes the Virginia Youth Empowerment and Mentoring Grant Fund as a special nonreverting fund in the state treasury to support youth mentoring initiatives

Creates a competitive grant program administered by the Department of Criminal Justice Services to fund community-based organizations

Targets high-risk youth by pairing them with mentors to help transition them into careers in certified high-wage trades

Requires the Department to establish guidelines for grant agreements and oversee all awarded grants with thorough reporting requirements

Mandates data-driven tracking of measurable outcomes including reductions in homicides and shootings in targeted communities, apprenticeship enrollment, and job retention rates