Congressman Lowenthal secures $7.6M of community project funding in house funding omnibus

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Congressman Alan Lowenthal (CA-47) announced that he secured inclusion of more than $7.6 million for nine community projects in the 47th District in Fiscal Year 2022 appropriations legislation that passed the House of Representatives. The legislation now heads to the Senate for consideration. It is expected to be signed into law by President Biden within days.

“I was proud to champion these projects at the request of my communities and constituents, and these investments will allow our communities to move forward with these important projects across the 47th District,” Congressman Lowenthal said.

The community projects were submitted to the Congressman by community organizations and local governments in the 47th District last year. The requests were selected for submission by the Congressman through a competitive application and vetting process to ensure compliance with House Appropriations Committee guidelines, community support, benefit to constituents, and valuable use of taxpayer funds.

After the initial selection process, the Congressman submitted his Community Project Funding requests to the Appropriations Committee for inclusion in Fiscal Year 2022 Labor-HHS and THUD appropriations bills. These bills were part of the FY22 government funding omnibus passed by the House last night.

“I will continue to fight for the funding for each of these projects and I urge the Senate to quickly pass the appropriations legislation,” Congressman Lowenthal said.

The nine projects are (in alphabetical order of requesting entities):

African American History and Culture Foundation (Long Beach)
African American History and Culture Foundation, Long Beach, CA for college preparation activities, including scholarships, $250,000 – (Labor HHS – Chair Rosa DeLauro)

This project would support the African American History and Culture Foundation’s Supplemental Transition Education Program for Underrepresented Populations (STEP UP) program. The STEP UP program provides direct services to youth as well as empowers parents with skills needed to be successful and effectively support their student. By improving the transition and post-secondary options, it seeks to improve the lives of numerous at-risk youth, directly improving the communities in which they reside.

Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Anaheim-Cypress
Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Anaheim-Cypress, Cypress, CA for academic support and youth engagement, $1,000,000 – (Labor HHS – Chair Rosa DeLauro)

This project will help the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Anaheim-Cypress support its Cypress and Los Alamitos programs engage youth in academic, health and wellness, and leadership development. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated existing gaps in opportunity, with potentially long-term impacts on children and teens. The psychosocial effects of COVID-19 disproportionately affect young people. Additional funds will help the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Anaheim-Cypress offset the social and emotional effects of trauma, including the COVID-19 pandemic in the community and help ensure that vulnerable children and teens have a safe place to learn and grow throughout the entire year.

California State University, Long Beach
California State University, Long Beach, CA for teacher development and student academic support, $500,000 – (Labor HHS – Chair Rosa DeLauro)

This project will augment and expand the work of the California State University Center to Close the Opportunity Gap (CCOG). This multi-campus initiative housed at CSU Long Beach, leverage opportunities across sectors, to support systemic change, and advance K-12 students’ academic success. Additional funds will help CCOG better understand the impact of school closures and adaptations to instructional practices in response to the COVID 19 pandemic. Further, it will help recruit, prepare, and retain teachers of color who are prepared to work in post-pandemic schools in our region.

The Cove at the Villages at Cabrillo (Long Beach)
The Cove at the Villages at Cabrillo: Housing our City’s Veterans, $1,094,239 – (THUD – Chair David Price)

This project would support The Cove, which offers permanent supportive housing for veterans in our community, make important infrastructure improvements, including the realignment of Williams Street and improving associated utilities. This project will help The Cove address Veteran homelessness in our community. Funds will serve as an investment in our impacted veterans, regardless of their age, branch of service, or type of housing (transitional or permanent), with access to safe and affordable housing, as well as access to all resources and services to remain healthy and stable.

ESP Education & Leadership Institute, Inc. (Long Beach)
ESP Education & Leadership Institute, Long Beach, CA for STEM education and college access, $50,000 – (Labor HHS – Chair Rosa DeLauro)

This project will support the ESP Education & Leadership Institute’s Business Of Student Success (BOSS) program. The BOSS program seeks to better prepare boys from under-resourced communities and schools for graduation, college, and into their career. Additional funds will allow the BOSS program directly benefit residents of the community and address the lingering and persistent disparity in achievement facing minority residents of our area.

City of Long Beach
Silverado Park Playground, $1,500,000 – (THUD – Chair David Price)

This project would install signature playground at Silverado Park which improves and upgrades the playground facilities. Community benefits include: increased ADA accessibility through site-work improvements, enhanced outdoor recreational opportunities, provide age-appropriate playground structures for ages two to five and ages five to twelve, and promotes active and healthy lifestyles. Silverado Park is one of the last major parks in the city to not have a signature playground with age-appropriate facilities and structures.

MemorialCare Health System (Long Beach)
MemorialCare Health System, Long Beach, CA for construction and equipment and an electronic health records initiative, $575,000 – (Labor HHS – Chair Rosa DeLauro)

This project would move the Miller Children’s and Women’s Hospital (MCWH) Obstetrics Clinic into a larger space at the main hospital that also provides access to other ancillary services for these patients. MCWH is 357-bed non-profit pediatric teaching hospital that has become a regional pediatric and women’s health destination and has served the greater Long Beach area since 1970. The current space is too small and not integrated with MCWH’s electronic health record. Relocation will provide improved, and more timely access to, additional ancillary services and specialists.

City of Signal Hill
Civic Center Parking Lot Improvement Project, $1,800,000 – (THUD – Chair David Price)

This project would improve an existing, outdated public facility to bring it up to current ADA standards, providing a modern parking lot with access to the Civic Center Complex, including the City Library, City Hall, and City Community Center. The improved parking lot will meet current ADA standards and facilitate civic engagement through welcoming access to civic assets for employees, residents, and visitors. This project is important to ensure access to civic facilities and civic life by people with disabilities.

City of Stanton
Orangewood Parkette, $850,000 – (THUD – Chair David Price)

This project would support construction of a new parkette on Orangewood Ave at Santa Rosalia in Stanton, CA. This area is in need of park space and this project would greatly benefit the surrounding community.