Community Project Funding Requests FY2023

House Committee on Appropriations
Community Project Funding Requests for FY2023

Congresswoman Sánchez has submitted funding requests for important community projects in the 38th Congressional District of California to the House Appropriations Committee.

Under guidelines issued by the Appropriations Committee, each Representative may request funding for up to 15 projects in their community for fiscal year 2023 – although there is no guarantee on how many will be funded.

Projects are restricted to a limited number of federal funding streams, and only state and local governments and eligible non-profit entities are permitted to receive funding. Additional information on the reforms governing Community Project Funding is available here.

In compliance with House Rules and Committee requirements, Congresswoman Sánchez has certified that she, her spouse, and her immediate family have no financial interest in any of the projects she has requested.

Projects Requested

NOTE: The projects are listed in alphabetical order by recipient name.

Recipient Name: City of Artesia, California
Project Name: Artesia Botanical Gardens
Recipient Address: 18747 Clarkdale Avenue, Artesia, CA 90701
Amount Requested: $3,000,000
Project Description and Justification: The primary purpose of the project is new construction to make a parcel the City purchased in late 2018 a usable park amenity. The Project is intended to address equitable access to parks and recreation facilities and services by creating new park access to communities not currently within a half mile walking distance to a park. The Project also addresses climate change and resiliency by preserving and protecting existing forestry on the property which would have otherwise been removed for a luxury housing development. The City intends to maintain the existing forest area and enhance it with educational features to teach children (through a partnership with the elementary school across the street) and families (through parks and recreation programing) about caring for plants and trees, California climate, and the benefits of preserving forestry.

This project is a priority because the City of Artesia lacks access to safe, open spaces. The Los Angeles Countywide Comprehensive Park & Recreation Needs Assessment (2016) reported a high need for parks in the City of Artesia. The assessment concluded that the City only has 1 acre of parkland per 1,000 residents, which is significantly below the Los Angeles County average of 3.3 acres per 1,000 residents. In addition, only 46 percent of Artesia residents are within walking distance (half-mile) of a park, as compared to the County average of 49 percent.
Disclosure Letter: Click here.

--

Recipient Name: Foothill Transit
Project Name: Zero Emission Bus Program
Recipient Address: 100 S. Vincent Avenue, West Covina, CA 91790
Amount Requested: $7,500,000
Project Description and Justification: Foothill Transit plans to deploy 24 double deck zero emissions buses in the San Gabriel and Pomona valleys of LA County. With this capital project, Foothill Transit will continue to lead the way to cleaner, smarter transit in one of the most congested regions in the country. One double deck coach can carry 80 passengers compared to the 38-rider capacity of a standard 40-foot bus. Moving more people without increasing traffic congestion or greenhouse gases will be a game changer for Southern California and for public transit nationwide. The 24 double deck zero emissions coaches to be procured here will replace 24 CNG buses which have reached the end of their life cycle, and with this program and others, the Agency is moving aggressively toward a goal of a totally zero emissions bus fleet to meet the requirements of the California Air Resources Board (CARB). The program represents a good use of public funds as it provides substantial benefits to taxpayers. These highly innovative buses will meet the multiple objectives of cleaner air, increased passenger capacity and enhanced rider experience which will encourage public transit use. This project will help preserve the lifeline and mobility options for the Los Angeles region's residents to commute to their jobs and schools as well as to access vital resources such as medical services and groceries, all while improving their quality of life. This procurement of 24 double deck zero emissions buses will follow Foothill Transit's deployment in 2021 of the first two double deck zero emissions buses in North America.

Disclosure Letter: Click here.

--

Recipient Name: Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles
Project Name: Santa Fe Springs Homeownership Development Project
Recipient Address: 1071 S La Brea Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90019
Amount Requested: $500,000
Project Description and Justification: This project will support construction of 18 new-construction homes to be sold with an affordable mortgage to low-income families. This project will be located at the corner of Lakeland Road and Laurel Avenue in the city of Santa Fe Springs, California This is Habitat LA's contribution to the Lakeland Development project, a public-private partnership which in addition to the 18 homeownership units included in this application, will include 40 units of interim housing, 89 permanent support housing units, and a 6,000 square foot Supportive Services Center.

Disclosure Letter: Click here.

--

Recipient Name: City of Hawaiian Gardens, California
Project Name: Park and Field Renovations
Recipient Address: 21815 Pioneer Blvd, Hawaiian Gardens, CA 90716
Amount Requested: $1,400,000
Project Description and Justification: The project would upgrade athletic facilities, fields, and concession stands at parks and sports fields across the city. The goal of these upgrades is to provide safe recreational facilities for the community to enjoy. The renovations would be located at Furgeson Elementary School, located at 22215 Elaine Ave, HG 90716; C. Robert Lee Activity Center, located at 21815 Pioneer Blvd, HG 90716; and the Fedde Sports Complex located at 21409 Elaine Ave, HG 90716.

Disclosure Letter: Click here.

--

Recipient Name: County of Los Angeles, Department of Public Works
Project Name: South Whittier Communities Bikeways Access Project
Recipient Address: 900 South Fremont Avenue, Alhambra, CA 91803
Amount Requested: $2,500,000
Project Description and Justification: At various community meetings and outreach events, the community has expressed a desire and need for enhancements to the transportation infrastructure in this community. This project represents this requested investment and will directly benefit over 56,000 residents of South Whittier and the surrounding areas. Specifically, the funding would be used for the installation of Class II bike lanes and Class III bike boulevards, wayfinding signage, roadway resurfacing, landscaping medians, replacing streetlights within the medians, constructing curb bulb-outs, reconstructing curb and gutter, sidewalk, and curb ramps, upgrading pedestrian push buttons with audio and vibration devices. This will allow residents alternative transportation options with greater mobility and accessibility. In addition, increased and more attractive alternative modes of travel will help reduce congestion and greenhouse gas emissions creating a better healthier community surrounding the project.

Disclosure Letter: Click here.

--

Recipient Name: County of Los Angeles, Department of Public Works
Project Name: Sunshine Shuttle Route C Electric Buses and Charging Infrastructure Project
Recipient Address: 900 South Fremont Avenue, Alhambra, CA 91803
Amount Requested: $622,000
Project Description and Justification: The funding is designated for the acquisition of two electric transit buses for the Sunshine Shuttle service to replace the existing propane cutaways beyond their service life. The project provides community shuttle service in Los Nietos. The Sunshine Shuttle is a 3-route community shuttle system and connects to regional and municipal transit services including LA Metro, Montebello Transit, and Norwalk Transit. Sunshine Shuttle provides Los Nietos and South Whittier area residents access to shopping centers, community centers, medical facilities, parks and recreation areas, libraries, job training and employment sites for Cal-WORKS recipients.

Disclosure Letter: Click here.

--

Recipient Name: City of La Mirada, California
Project Name: Leffingwell Road Landscape and Median Improvements Project
Recipient Address: 13700 La Mirada Boulevard, La Mirada CA 90638
Amount Requested: $2,500,000
Project Description and Justification: The funding would be used to construct landscaped median improvements over much of the area of Leffingwell Road between Telegraph Road and Stamy Road to improve traffic safety, enhance the aesthetics of the streetscape, and provide ecological and environmental benefits.

Disclosure Letter: Click here.

--

Recipient Name: City of Montebello, California
Project Name: Public Safety Critical Communications Upgrade Project
Recipient Address: 1600 W Beverly Blvd; Montebello, CA. 90640
Amount Requested: $2,237,250
Project Description and Justification: The City of Montebello's Emergency Operations Center (EOC) facilitates multi-agency and multi-jurisdictional coordination, particularly between local government, the private sector, operational area (OA), state response levels, and appropriate federal agencies in emergency operations. This project is intended to protect the public, first responders, fire, and law enforcement communities as they must be able to communicate effectively. Communication interoperability, issues concerning spectrum availability, and infrastructure have been a consistent challenge. Radio systems currently used by the EOC and public safety agencies are severely crowded, lack interoperability, have less than optimal transmission and reception quality. Montebello's EOC needs to upgrade their radio communications to mitigate these issues. The failure of a radio transmission to get through can mean the difference between life and death.

Disclosure Letter: Click here.

--

Recipient Name: City of Norwalk, California
Project Name: Emergency Generators for Community Resiliency
Recipient Address: 12700 Norwalk Blvd., Norwalk, CA 90650
Amount Requested: $1,317,637
Project Description and Justification: The City of Norwalk's Senior Center and the Norwalk Arts and Sports Complex function as emergency, temporary shelters for those in need during emergency events. This project provides for the procurement and installation of a dedicated emergency backup generator at each of these locations. Currently, no generators exist or are available. During emergency events (extreme high heat or cold, earthquakes, etc.), the need for reliable, consistent services is paramount with the varying situations that can occur. With dedicated backup power, these facilities can operate and provide necessary response services to the public, which reduces potential burden on other emergency services that are needed elsewhere in the community during such events. For example, ensuring consistent power to these facilities during outages and times of high power demand allows them to continue operating as designated cooling centers and emergency shelters. The project supports the needs of low-income and senior populations who are at higher risk of heat and temperature related illnesses due to a lack of climate-controlled environments.

Disclosure Letter: Click here.

--

Recipient Name: Norwalk-La Mirada Unified School District
Project Name: Closing the Opportunity Gap – Virtually
Recipient Address: 12820 Pioneer Blvd.; Norwalk, CA 90650
Amount Requested: $2,999,995
Project Description and Justification: Norwalk-La Mirada Unified School District (NLMUSD) currently enrolls 8,860 students from grades 6-12 who participate in several programs, activities, and curricular coursework. One of the cornerstones of NLMUSD is the Career Technical Education (CTE) pathways and Dual Enrollment access to college-based curriculum for college credit. Providing access to these programs during the school day has been made possible with the 2020 Learning Initiative, where every student from grades TK-12, receives a technology tool (iPad or Chromebook) to collaborate with peers, engage in instruction, and participate in school. Unfortunately, programs like the CTE pathways and Dual Enrollment courses require specialized computer systems, which are not always compatible with the device students receive for core instruction. As a result, students must utilize technology provided in classroom carts or lab spaces dedicated to specific users and applications.

With these funds, NLMUSD will be able to build a virtual learning environment for all students participating in CTE pathways, Dual Enrollment or other content areas to engage in with the devices that they receive for core instruction. Through the power of virtualization and partnering with software and hardware providers, NLMUSD can provide students and instructors with remote access to educational materials on demand.

Disclosure Letter: Click here.

--

Recipient Name: City of Pico Rivera, CA
Project Name: Passons Active Depot Park
Recipient Address: 6615 Passons Blvd. Pico Rivera, CA 90660
Amount Requested: $1,050,000
Project Description and Justification: The funding would be used to transform an underutilized and blighted bus depot into a colorful and vibrant neighborhood park that features 14 new canopy trees and drought resistant native landscaping; a grassy knoll and performance amphitheater; decorative fencing; creative solar panel shade structures; a butterfly garden; community-based artwork; children's play areas; free Wi-Fi hotspot; and architecturally-designed shipping containers to be used as flexible community space. The PAD Park will also commit space dedicated to incubating small, home-grown businesses such as galleries, cafés, bakeries, and other vendors.

Disclosure Letter: Click here.

--

Recipient Name: City of Santa Fe Springs, CA
Project Name: Water Well No. 12 Assessment and Treatment
Recipient Address: 11710 E. Telegraph Road, Santa Fe Springs, CA 90670
Amount Requested: $2,200,000
Project Description and Justification: Water Well No. 12 was constructed in 2015 but has never been in operation due to its inability to pass state and federal drinking water standards. The potable water produced does not meet state drinking water standards; in particular the potable water exceeds the maximum contaminant level(s) for iron and hydrogen sulfide. In addition, the color and temperature of the water are at elevated levels. Because imported water is much more expensive than groundwater, this has resulted in increased costs to the City, residents and businesses in the surrounding communities, many of whom are of Hispanic heritage and are living within Disadvantaged Communities (DACs) throughout portions of the 38th Congressional District. This project will bring Water Well No. 12 into operation by assessing the existing condition of the Water Well No. 12 equipment and infrastructure, confirming the type and concentration level of contaminants, and developing a cost-effective treatment strategy that will provide safe and affordable drinking water to the residents and businesses within the 38th Congressional District.

Disclosure Letter: Click here.

--

Recipient Name: San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments
Project Name: Workforce Development Program
Recipient Address: 1000 Fremont Ave #42, Alhambra, CA 91803
Amount Requested: $2,000,000
Project Description and Justification: The funding would be used for implementing a Workforce Development Program to provide services to two main groups. The first group includes adults who are experiencing homeless, while prioritizing residents at the Tiny Home Village site in Montebello; the other group includes transition-age youth and at-risk youth from disadvantaged communities (DACs) experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, homelessness. The Program will provide participants with paid work experiences and wraparound supportive services with the purpose of placing them on a pathway to economic security.

Disclosure Letter: Click here.

--

Recipient Name: City of Whittier, CA
Project Name: Sierra Athletic Field Restoration
Recipient Address: 13230 Penn St. Whittier, CA 90602
Amount Requested: $4,340,000
Project Description and Justification: Using under-utilized school district property located in Whittier and physically bordered by both Santa Fe Springs and unincorporated Los Angeles County, the joint project would convert 8 acres of underutilized property into shared community recreation space. The project includes conversion of existing turf in poor condition into year-round accessible artificial turf space that can be used equitably by youth sports including soccer, lacrosse, rugby, flag football and tackle football programs. These programs in the Whittier area serve more than 2,000 youth annually, contributing to healthy active lifestyles and providing a positive social-emotional space that nurtures the development of young residents.

Disclosure Letter: Click here.

--

Recipient Name: Water Replenishment District of Southern California
Project Name: Clean Drinking Water and Groundwater Cleanup Project
Recipient Address: 4040 Paramount Blvd, Lakewood, CA 90712
Amount Requested: $2,500,000
Project Description and Justification: The funding will be used to treat three PFAS-affected wells in congressional district (CD) 38. These wells produce about 3,295-acre feet of water annually (just over 1.07 billion gallons of water) water to meet the needs of 32,950 people of water each. One acre foot is enough water to meet the needs of two families of five. This means the well remediation system will treat enough water to meet the needs of 30,295 people in the Cities of La Habra, Whittier and Montebello. The goal of the Program is to ensure water providers have the support they need to offer customers high quality water; the program helps meet State public health goals related to drinking water (view need for water treatment here).

Disclosure Letter: Click here.