Congressman García Secures $10.6 million for Community Funding Projects in his District

Congressman García Secures $10.6 million for Community Funding Projects in his District

"These investments support underserved areas and make a real difference in the lives of the working families I represent"

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Jesús "Chuy" García (IL-04) voted to fund $10,608,000 for community funding projectsfor Illinois' 4th Congressional District. This funding, included in the government funding package approved by the House of Representatives, directly addresses pressing needs in the Chicagoland area.

"I am incredibly pleased to vote for $10,608,000 in Community Project Funding for IL-04, which will have a profound impact on the lives of the communities I represent," Congressman García said. "These investments support underserved areas and make a real difference in the lives of working families in Chicago and suburban Cook County. I am proud to have fought for funding that will make our communities healthier, safer, stronger, and even more resilient as we recover from the health and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic."

Congressman García championed funding for 10 projects that will directly benefit residents in the 4th Congressional District of Illinois. These include:

• $2,000,000 to Latin United Community Housing Association (LUCHA) for Humboldt Park Affordable Housing, to help this Equitable Transit-Oriented Development (eTOD) project acquire and rehabilitate the Humboldt Park United Methodist Church building along with its attached apartment building to create a 22-unit affordable apartment building near a transit station and expand access to job centers, health care, and other resources.
• $1,035,000 to Brighton Park Neighborhood Council (BPNC) for Community Center, to create a community center on Chicago's Southwest side that will offer youth programs, violence prevention and intervention resources, counseling services, immigration support, career development as well as housing assistance.
• $975,000 to United Cerebral Palsy Seguin of Greater Chicago for Community Day Services Center Improvement Projects, to enhance the spaces and services for nearly 250 adults and seniors with intellectual and developmental disabilities served by the joint centers in Cicero and LaGrange.
• $1,000,000 to Southwest Organizing Project (SWOP) for Reclaiming Southwest Chicago, to rebuild working-class neighborhoods ravaged by the foreclosure crisis, provide quality, affordable housing to families who reside on Chicago's Southwest side and strengthen surrounding local institutions.
• $923,000 to Saint Anthony Hospital for Planning and Design Phase to launch the design and relocation of Saint Anthony Hospital, serving more than 400,000 patients, to a new site that will allow for expansion of services and greater access to the community. This would be the first hospital in the heart of Little Village.
• $825,000 to Chicago Zoological Society, for the King Conservation Leadership Academy for a series of community-focused informal science education programs targeting children, youth, and families from underserved neighborhoods including Cicero, Melrose Park, Pilsen, and Belmont Cragin. The funds will help engage more than 4,000 children in local environmental and conservation issues while promoting STEM study and careers.
• $350,000 to Gads Hill Center for Early Childhood Mental Health Service Expansion, to increase trauma-informed mental and behavioral health services across Chicago's South and Southwest sides.
• $1,000,000 to Chicago Park District for the Piotrowski Park Natatorium Project, to create a permanent enclosed natatorium that will offer classes, activities, and programs to promote mobility and wellness for children, seniors, and families.
• $500,000 to University of Illinois - Chicago, College of Dentistry and Oral Health for The Pilsen Project, for facilities and equipment to sustain a community-based partnership addressing disparities in access to oral health care management and prevention through a holistic system of care that incorporates dental, medical, nutritional, health, and public health services as well as a soon-to-open pharmacy.
• $2,000,000 to Erie Neighborhood House for Mental Health in Southwest Chicago, to expand violence prevention, mental health support, and family strengthening services in the Little Village community through culturally competent, bilingual programs including supportive counseling, case management, parent education classes, education and workforce training, and support groups for women.

The government funding package also includes money for priorities like expanding child care and early learning programs, putting people to work rebuilding our infrastructure, strengthening nutrition assistance, funding more affordable housing, and addressing environmental justice issues that are key needs in Chicago and Cook County. Taken together, the funding for the 4th Congressional District and the funding increases for critical government programs will help reverse decades of disinvestment in these communities and strengthen our nation.

This legislation will now go to the Senate for a vote and will be signed into law by President Biden after passage. A detailed summary of the bill is available here. A list of Community Projects Funding requested by Congressman García and included in the appropriations package can be found on his website here.

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