FY22 Community Project Funding
FY2022 Community Project Funding and Transportation & Infrastructure Committee Member Designated Project Selections:
This year, the House of Representatives announced two new funding opportunities:
Community Project Funding, administered by the House Committee on Appropriations; and
Member Designated Projects, administered by the House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure.
COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDING
Community Project Funding (CPF) is a new initiative for Fiscal Year 2022 allowing Members of Congress to request direct funding for projects that benefit the communities they represent. CPF is separate from federal grants and funding apportioned by formula.
Given the limited scope for which the committee will consider CPF requests, members were limited to a maximum of 10 requests across all subcommittees. The 10 CPF selections are not guaranteed to receive funding. The Appropriations Committee will conduct the final selection process.
Please note on selections:
- A request submitted by Congressman Garcia to the Appropriations Committee does NOT guarantee the project will be funded.
- Congressman Garcia selected ONLY projects within IL-04.
- Project applicants must comply with all relevant federal laws and regulations.
Project Eligibility
Each selection follows the stringent eligibility, ethics, and transparency guardrails. CPF is only available to nonprofit organizations and to state, local, tribal, and territorial governments. In addition, projects selected demonstrated evidence of strong community support and need. Community support was considered through: letters from local stakeholders, inclusion on a state or local planning, and letters to the editor in local papers. Other supporting areas included state or local agency coordination, matching funds, and other financial support secured for the financial viability of the project.
Transparency
All requests submitted by Congressman García to the Appropriations Committee are posted below.
Projects Requested
Listed below are the projects Congressman García has submitted to the House Appropriations Committee (listed in alpha order):
Project Title: Brighton Park Neighborhood Council Community Center
Project Recipient: Brighton Park Neighborhood Council
Address: 3990-4000 S. Archer Avenue, Chicago, IL 60632
Amount: $1,035,000
Benefit: The purpose of this project is to create a community center in 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 through a 40-member organization coalition. The funds will go towards the construction of a new facility with a targeted focus on securing minority/women business (M/WBE) enterprises or contractors. This is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because this center services will directly serve countless families and children across the city of Chicago and benefit surrounding communities.
Project Title: Community Day Services Center Improvement Projects
Project Recipient: United Cerebral Palsy Seguin of Greater Chicago
Address: 3100 South Central Avenue in Cicero, Illinois 60804-3987;
1136 North Maple Avenue in La Grange Park, Illinois 60526-1375
Amount: $975,000
Benefit: The purpose of this project is to enhance the spaces and services for the nearly 250 adults and seniors with intellectual and developmental disabilities at the joint centers. The funds will go towards creating safer, functional, accessible, and energy efficient spaces for participants. This is a good use of taxpayer funds because this will allow the center to deliver a wide variety of employment, developmental and life skills training, therapy, and other services to participants every day.
Project Title: Early Childhood Mental Health Service Expansion
Project Recipient: Gads Hill Center
Address: 4255 S. Archer Ave., Chicago, IL 60632
Amount: $342,542
Benefit: The purpose of this project is to expand trauma-informed, intergenerational, comprehensive mental and behavioral health services across Chicago's South and Southwest sides. The funds will go towards accessible and linguistically-relevant services including individual and family therapy, group therapy, home visits/teletherapy, psychoeducational workshops, and case management services. This is a good use of taxpayer funds given the vital need to provide trauma-informed services for children and their families and strengthening paths to self-sustaining healing environments and upwards mobility.
Project Title: Enhancing the Availability of Free and Bilingual Mental Health Services in Southwest Chicago (Erie)
Project Recipient: Erie Neighborhood House
Address: 2653 & 2659 S Kildare St. Chicago, IL 60623
Amount: $3,000,000
Benefit: The purpose of this project is 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 funds will go towards the safe construction of a new and accessible facility. This is a good use of taxpayer funds because programs will serve to increase resiliency and community wellness, create safe and affirming spaces, as well as interrupt historical trauma in underinvested communities.
Project Title: Humboldt Park Affordable Housing (LUCHA)
Project Recipient: Latin United Community Housing Association
Address: 2120-28 N. Mozart St., Chicago, IL 60647
Amount: $2,000,000
Benefit: The purpose of this Equitable Transit-Oriented Development (eTOD) project is to acquire and rehabilitate the HPUMC church building along with its attached apartment building to create a 22-unit affordable apartment building near transit station and expand access to job centers, healthcare, and other resources. The funds will go towards the acquisition and construction of the project including an estimated 145 temporary construction jobs. This is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because the project outcomes will directly provide sustainable housing to families in Chicago's Northwest side, an area that has experienced massive displacement due to rise in rent and housing.
Project Title: King Conservation Leadership Academy: STEM Education for Underserved Communities
Project Recipient: Chicago Zoological Society
Address: Brookfield Zoo, 3300 Golf Road, Brookfield, IL 60513
Amount: $811,303
Benefit: The purpose of this project is to enhance the partnership and capacity of Chicago Zoological Society's (CZS) King Conservation Leadership Academy (King Academy) through 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 go towards dedicated programs to engage over 4,000 children in local environmental and conservation issues while promoting STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) study and careers. This is a good use of taxpayer funds because program services will directly benefit diverse, low-income students, promote out-of-school STEM learning, college readiness, career readiness as well as strengthen local school, library, and organizational partnerships.
Project Title: Piotrowski Park Natatorium Project
Project Recipient: Chicago Park District
Address: 4247 W 31st St, Chicago, IL 60623
Amount: $1,000,000
Benefit: The purpose of this project is to create a permanent enclosed natatorium that will offer classes, activities, and programs for community members year-round. The funds will go towards the safe construction and planning of a permanent enclosed natatorium. This is a good use of taxpayer funds because programs will benefit families, children, and seniors and provide much needed activities for mobility, health, and wellness.
Project Title: Planning and Design for the new Saint Anthony Hospital
Project Recipient: Saint Anthony Hospital (at Focal Point)
Address: West 31st St. and S. Kedzie Ave, Chicago, IL 60623
Amount: $923,000
Benefit: The purpose of this project is to launch the design and relocation of Saint Anthony Hospital, serving over 400,000 patients, to a new site that will allow for expansion of services and greater access to the community. The funds will go towards the planning and design phase including the safe demolition, abatement, environmental and Brownfield cleanup. This is a good use of taxpayer funds because the project services will provide critical affordable and quality healthcare options, especially after the disproportionate impact of COVID-19.
Project Title: Reclaiming Southwest Chicago
Project Recipient: Southwest Organizing Project
Address: Western Ave to Kedzie Ave, 51st St through 74th St
Amount: $1,000,000
Benefit: The purpose of this project is to rebuild working-class neighborhoods ravaged by the foreclosure crisis, provide quality, affordable housing to families who reside in Chicago's Southwest side and strengthen surrounding local institutions. The funds will go towards securing and rehabbing 35 vacant properties, and creating programmatic economic opportunities for families to build wealth and equity through homeownership. This is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because it will directly provide affordable homeownership and rental housing options for working-class families, seniors, and the formerly incarcerated as well as positively impact schools, streets, and public safety.
Project Title: The Pilsen Project
Project Recipient: University of Illinois - Chicago, College of Dentistry and Oral Health Forum
Address: 1713 S Ashland Ave, Chicago, IL 60608
Amount: $500,000
Benefit: The purpose of this project is to sustain a community-based partnership addressing disparities in access of 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. The funds will go towards modest renovation, equipment, and staffing to coordinate services and supervise UIC dental students, who will provide the dental services to patients. This is a good use of taxpayer funds because programs will directly serve working-class, low-income children and families in need.
COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDING
Community Project Funding (CPF) is a new initiative for Fiscal Year 2022 allowing Members of Congress to request direct funding for projects that benefit the communities they represent. CPF is separate from federal grants and funding apportioned by formula.
Given the limited scope for which the committee will consider CPF requests, members were limited to a maximum of 10 requests across all subcommittees. The 10 CPF selections are not guaranteed to receive funding. The Appropriations Committee will conduct the final selection process.
Please note on selections:
- A request submitted by Congressman Garcia to the Appropriations Committee does NOT guarantee the project will be funded.
- Congressman Garcia selected 10 projects for CPF.
Transportation and Infrastructure Member Designated Projects
The House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) plans to advance surface transportation authorization legislation later this spring, building on H.R. 2, the Moving Forward Act, from the 116th Congress. Chairman Peter DeFazio announced that the T&I Committee will formally accept requests for projects from House Members.
The T&I Committee process for considering member projects is separate and distinct from the House Committee on Appropriations' process for considering Community Project Funding requests. Projects funded through the surface transportation authorization will be funded directly from the Highway Trust Fund, and they do not require a separate or subsequent appropriation.
Please note:
- Congressman García will NOT accept requests for projects outside of IL-04.
- Only legally eligible entities, including state and local units of government, may request projects.
- Project sponsors must comply with all relevant federal laws and regulations.
- A request submitted by Congressman García to the Committee does NOT guarantee the project will be funded.
Project Eligibility
- Capital projects eligible under title 23, United States Code, and chapter 53 of title 49, United States Code, are eligible for funding requests under T&I's project submission process.
- The best way to ensure project eligibility is to select projects included in the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) or Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), as those projects have already been certified as eligible for Federal Highway Administration or Federal Transit Administration funding and do not require further verification of eligibility.
- For projects not in the STIP or TIP, additional documentation is required, including verification about whether the project can be added to the STIP or TIP in a reasonable timeframe, whether the project is on a long-range transportation plan, and verification of eligibility for the proposed activity under title 23 or chapter 53 of title 49 by the relevant federal agency.
- Further, project sponsors must demonstrate the ability to fully obligate any funds provided within the obligation window, and must demonstrate a proven ability to finance the remaining costs not funded by the Committee, as well as the required non-federal cost share.
Transparency
- All requests submitted by Congressman García to the T&I Committee are posted below. Members will be required to certify that neither they nor their immediate family have a financial interest in the requests made.
Projects Requested
Listed below are the projects Congressman García has submitted to the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee:
PACE – Bus Rapid Transit
- Implementation of transit signal priority along Cermak Rd. and Harlem Ave. in Western Cook County. Cermak Road and Harlem Avenue are two of the corridors with the heaviest bus ridership in Pace's service area, and both are top priorities for eventual construction of a Pulse (rapid transit) Line. Funding for this signal priority project will be used along Cermak Road in Berwyn and Cicero, and along Harlem Avenue in Riverside, Berwyn, and North Riverside Transit signal priority (TSP) creates shorter travel times for bus riders because it allows buses to communicate with traffic signals to give buses an advantage over regular auto traffic. The implementation of TSP would create immediate benefits to riders of Pace Routes 307 and 322 at a moderate cost, while also facilitating development of full-fledged Pulse rapid transit service.
- The project sponsor for this project is Pace and the project is located on Along Cermak Rd. between Berwyn and Cicero; and along Harlem Ave. between Riverside, Berwyn, and North Riverside.
- Requested Amount: $900,000
- For more information on this project, please see the project's entry on the Transportation Improvement Program Cermak Rd. HERE; Harlem Ave. HERE
- Click HERE to read the required financial conflict disclosure letter.
CTA - Blue Line's Belmont Station
- CTA's All Stations Accessibility Program (ASAP) Strategic Plan is a blueprint for making all of CTA's rail stations fully accessible to all customers. The ASAP plan includes the rehabilitation and/or replacement of all 160+ existing station elevators, as well as enhancements to rail system signage and wayfinding to make it easier and more intuitive for people who are deaf, blind, and visually impaired. This project would help facilitate badly needed improvements at the Belmont station on the Blue Line. The Belmont Station project enjoys support from Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot and the Chicago Transit Authority.
- The project sponsor for this project is the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) and the project is located at 3355 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago, IL 60618.
- Requested Amount: $3,300,000
- For more information on this project, please see the project's entry on the Transportation Improvement Program HERE.
- Click HERE to read the required financial conflict disclosure letter.
Arterial Resurfacing
- This project consists of rehabilitative resurfacing of arterial streets throughout Chicago and Cook County.
- The project sponsor is the City of Chicago and Cook County Department of Highways and Transportation. The following locations are included:
- 25th St from Lawndale Ave to Central Park
- 36th St from Kostner Ave to Pulaski Rd
- Frontage Rd from Kostner Ave to Kilbourn Ave
- Hamlin Ave from 47th northward to the dead end
- Humboldt Blvd Service Drive (west side) from Palmer Sq. to North Ave.
- Karlov Ave from 51st St to Archer Ave
- Kostner Ave from 35th Pl to 36th St
- Landale Ave from 50th St to 51st St
- Neva Ave from Wabansia Ave to North Ave
- Western Ave from 26th St to 28th St
- 18th St from Halsted St to Canal St
- Diversey Ave from Narragansett Ave to Laramie Ave
- Humboldt Blvd from Palmer Sq to North Ave
- Sacramento Ave from Elston Ave to Milwaukee Ave
- Armitage Ave from Milwaukee Ave to Kedzie Ave
- Belmont Ave from Milwaukee Ave to Kilpatrick Ave
- Blue Island Ave from Wolcott Ave to Cermak Rd/Ashland Ave
- Diversey Ave from Central Park Ave to California Ave
- Kimball Ave from North Ave to Armitage Ave
- Lawndale Ave from 50th St to 47th St
- Central Ave from Schubert Ave to Diversey Ave
- Division St from kedzie Ave to California Ave
- Kedzie Ave from 44th St to 47th St
- Wrightwood Ave from Hamlin Ave to Sawyer Ave
- Requested Amount: $12,760,000
- For more information on this project, please see the project's entry on the Transportation Improvement Program at the following links:
- Click HERE to read the required financial conflict disclosure letter for Arterial Resurfacing Projects
Traffic Modernization - City of Chicago
- The project consists of modernization of the 1500 signals throughout the City requiring upgrading. The inclusion of Accessible Pedestrian Signals (APS) allows for information about the WALK and DON'T WALK intervals at signalized intersections to be communicated to the visually impaired. The Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) requires that APS provide both audible and vibrotactile walk indications. CDOT needs resources to modernize and update traffic signal systems at multiple intersections throughout the city. These updates will serve those who drive and those who walk in our neighborhoods.
- The project sponsor for these project is the Chicago Department of Transportation with three locations in the 4th district located at:
- Kedzie Ave. and N. Avondale Ave. at the Kennedy Expressway
- Kedzie Ave. and W. Belmont Ave. at the Kennedy Expressway
- N. Pulaski Rd. and W. Wellington Ave.
- Requested Amount: $1,350,000 ($450k per intersection)
- For more information on this project, please see the project's entry on the Transportation Improvement Program HERE
- Click HERE to read the required financial conflict disclosure letter.
Planning and Environmental Linkages (PEL) Study for Elimination of At-Grade Crossing at 31st Street and the Indiana Harbor Belt tracks
- The project will consider eliminating the at-grade crossing of 31st Street and the three Indiana Harbor Belt (IHB) tracks. This will be accomplished by creating either an overpass or underpass for vehicles at this location. This federal request is for a Planning and Environmental Linkages (PEL) Study, which will lead to a future environmental review study. Daily, 17,400 vehicles pass through the crossing. This project will reduce roadway congestion and improve safety at this grade crossing. The grade crossing separation will eliminate delay to nearly 2,100 vehicles daily, resulting in alleviation of almost 16,000 annual motorist hours of delay. It will also eliminate the potential for collisions between vehicles and trains. https://www.createprogram.org/projects/31st-street-indiana-harborbelt-grade-separation/
- The project sponsor for this project is the Cook County Department of Transportation & Highways and the project is located on 31st Street and the Indiana Harbor Belt track crossing between Beach Ave. and Barnsdale Rd.
- Requested Amount: $400,000
- For more information on this project, please see the project's entry on the Transportation Improvement Program HERE.
- Click HERE to read the required financial conflict disclosure letter.
Berwyn - 34th Street Modernization Project
- This project consists of improving the corridor for all users as well as addressing stormwater improvements. Construction will include rehabilitating the roadway, sidewalk and curb/gutter for improved overall flow of people and vehicles. Pedestrian enhancements will be included for safety, increased sight distance and ADA compliance. Traffic safety measures will be incorporated for the vehicular, pedestrian and bicycle traffic that frequents the corridor. This corridor is heavily traveled, facilitating 4,050 vehicles per day providing direct access to MacNeal Hospital, as well as the Pace routes located on Harlem, Oak Park and Ridgeland avenues.
Stormwater management elements will be incorporated into the design, per the City's adopted Stormwater Management Plan. Permeable pavers and rain gardens will capture roadway and sidewalk run-off/pollutants while beautifying the area. The City is located in a combined sewer system and experiences sanitary sewer back-ups into residential homes and businesses. The City has taken an active approach toward implementing green infrastructure into each and every project and development. The 34th Street Stormwater Concept plan was a highly recommended project to pursue as part of the City's Stormwater Management Plan.
- The project sponsor for this project is the Illinois Department of Transportation Central Council and the project is located on 34th Street from Harlem Ave. to Ridgeland Ave. in Berwyn, IL
- Requested Amount: $5,022,325
- For more information on this project, please see the project's entry on the Transportation Improvement Program HERE.
- Click HERE to read the required financial conflict disclosure letter.
Melrose Park FY22 (2) Bridge - 17th Ave Over Silver Creek
- Replacement of a bridge in deteriorated condition. The bridge has been evaluated as having a high priority for replacement, with a sufficiency rating below tolerable level. Bridge replacement needs to occur before load limits must be imposed restricting truck traffic, and before reaching a condition requiring closure. Limiting or closing the bridge would lead to reduced access to businesses and residences.
- The project sponsor for this project is the Illinois Department of Transportation North Central Council and the project is located on 17th Ave. and North Ave in Melrose Park, IL
- Requested Amount: $2,090,000
- For more information on this project, please see the project's entry on the Transportation Improvement Program HERE.
- Click HERE to read the required financial conflict disclosure letter.
Melrose Park - Broadway & North Ave Bridge over Silver Creek
- Replacement of a bridge in deteriorated condition. The bridge is also too narrow for the traffic needs of the roadway it carries. The bridge condition has been evaluated as having a high priority for replacement, with a sufficiency rating below tolerable level. Bridge replacement needs to occur before load limits must be imposed restricting truck traffic, and before reaching a condition requiring closure. Limiting or closing the bridge would lead to reduced access to businesses and residences.
- The project sponsor for this project is the Illinois Department of Transportation North Central Council and the project is located on Broadway Ave. and North Ave. in Melrose Park, IL.
- Requested Amount: $1,400,000
- For more information on this project, please see the project's entry on the Transportation Improvement Program HERE.
- Click HERE to read the required financial conflict disclosure letter.
Ogden Junction - CREATE Project
- This project will install a new bi-directional computerized Traffic Control System (TCS) on a 2-mile segment of the Union Pacific rail line along the CREATE Western Avenue Corridor. Approximately 7 hand-thrown switches will be upgraded to power switches as part of the project.
The project will install control points at Taylor St., Ogden Avenue, and 16th Street. These control points along with main line realignment will enable simultaneous movements between the UP, CSX, and Norfolk Southern main lines. The project will also include structural improvements to multiple bridges. This combination of improvements will enable operating speeds of up to 25 mph. All of this work will be within the existing railroad right-of-way.
- The project sponsor for this project is the Chicago Department of Transportation and the project is located in the area in the following parameters: North limit: W. Carroll Ave.; South limit: W. 19th Street; East limit: Western Ave; West limit: S. Troy St.
- Requested Amount: $60,000,000
- For more information on this project, please see the project's entry on the Transportation Improvement Program HERE.
- Click HERE to read the required financial conflict disclosure letter.