Rep. Linda Sánchez Wins Federal Funds for Los Angeles County, Watts/Willowbrook Area
December 10, 2009
Washington, DC - Rep. Linda Sánchez (D-CA) announced today that she has secured initial support for over $3 million in federal funding for projects across her Southern California district, including programs in the Los Angeles County area. Most of these investments were included in the Omnibus appropriations bill passed by the House of Representatives today. The bill will now proceed to the Senate then be signed by the President to become law.
"This is terrific news for the region," said Congresswoman Sánchez. "I am particularly proud to help fund programs that address the needs of kids today for brighter futures tomorrow."
These investments include:
* $150,000 for Food Banks in Southeast Los Angeles County - Community and Senior Services: to provide needed equipment to Food Finders, Inc of Long Beach and Interfaith Food Center in Whittier. These non-profit food banks serve communities of southeast Los Angeles County and funding will enable them to meet a growing need for their services among the recently unemployed and other vulnerable members of the community.
* $225,000 for Gang Alternatives Program for Southeast Los Angeles County: for staff salaries and operating expenses to provide "Gang Alternative Program" courses at schools in southeast L.A. County that have large populations of youth at-risk of dropping out. The project will help reduce gang involvement and bullying in high-crime areas by providing educational seminars at public schools to 4th grade students and their parents on strategies to avoid gang involvement and bullying.
Watts/Willowbrook:
* Street Lighting Fixture Energy Efficiency Retrofit Project: Congresswoman Sánchez joined with several Los Angeles area colleagues to secure $500,000 to install energy-efficient lighting in the City of Los Angeles, $100,000 of which will be used in the Watts area. The City of Los Angeles will replace 250 existing streetlight fixtures in the Watts area of the city with Light Emitting Diode (LED) fixtures. LED fixtures will consume at least 40% less energy than the existing light fixtures and save the city an annual energy savings of $18,000.
* $250,000 for Watts/Willowbrook Demonstration Project to Raise Breastfeeding Rates: These federal funds will help train obstetric and pediatric providers and staff of Watts Healthcare Corporation to incorporate best policies and research-based practices to teach and support breastfeeding to expectant and new mothers. The project will improve breastfeeding rates among underserved women in the Watts/Willowbrook area of Los Angeles County. Breastfeeding has been shown to reduce obesity, asthma, and other chronic diseases.
* $250,000 for Business Training for Youth At-Risk in Watts/Willowbrook: These federal funds will go towards a program to teach an innovative Summer Youth Entrepreneurial Academy for high school youth and young adults in the Watts area. The program will train young people in businesses and economic principles and expose them to different career paths and entrepreneurial opportunities via field trips with business leaders throughout the greater Los Angeles area. Some of these youth may develop future internship opportunities, develop their own businesses, or simply benefit from the program in a profession of their choosing. The more interests and life skills young people have, the more alternatives they will have in life and the less likely they will be to turn to gangs and crime.
"It is a priority of mine to bring home federal funding that will invest in our own communities, especially for the education of our youth" said Congresswoman Linda Sánchez. "During these tough economic times, smart investments in our children and workforce will yield great rewards for local families."
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"This is terrific news for the region," said Congresswoman Sánchez. "I am particularly proud to help fund programs that address the needs of kids today for brighter futures tomorrow."
These investments include:
* $150,000 for Food Banks in Southeast Los Angeles County - Community and Senior Services: to provide needed equipment to Food Finders, Inc of Long Beach and Interfaith Food Center in Whittier. These non-profit food banks serve communities of southeast Los Angeles County and funding will enable them to meet a growing need for their services among the recently unemployed and other vulnerable members of the community.
* $225,000 for Gang Alternatives Program for Southeast Los Angeles County: for staff salaries and operating expenses to provide "Gang Alternative Program" courses at schools in southeast L.A. County that have large populations of youth at-risk of dropping out. The project will help reduce gang involvement and bullying in high-crime areas by providing educational seminars at public schools to 4th grade students and their parents on strategies to avoid gang involvement and bullying.
Watts/Willowbrook:
* Street Lighting Fixture Energy Efficiency Retrofit Project: Congresswoman Sánchez joined with several Los Angeles area colleagues to secure $500,000 to install energy-efficient lighting in the City of Los Angeles, $100,000 of which will be used in the Watts area. The City of Los Angeles will replace 250 existing streetlight fixtures in the Watts area of the city with Light Emitting Diode (LED) fixtures. LED fixtures will consume at least 40% less energy than the existing light fixtures and save the city an annual energy savings of $18,000.
* $250,000 for Watts/Willowbrook Demonstration Project to Raise Breastfeeding Rates: These federal funds will help train obstetric and pediatric providers and staff of Watts Healthcare Corporation to incorporate best policies and research-based practices to teach and support breastfeeding to expectant and new mothers. The project will improve breastfeeding rates among underserved women in the Watts/Willowbrook area of Los Angeles County. Breastfeeding has been shown to reduce obesity, asthma, and other chronic diseases.
* $250,000 for Business Training for Youth At-Risk in Watts/Willowbrook: These federal funds will go towards a program to teach an innovative Summer Youth Entrepreneurial Academy for high school youth and young adults in the Watts area. The program will train young people in businesses and economic principles and expose them to different career paths and entrepreneurial opportunities via field trips with business leaders throughout the greater Los Angeles area. Some of these youth may develop future internship opportunities, develop their own businesses, or simply benefit from the program in a profession of their choosing. The more interests and life skills young people have, the more alternatives they will have in life and the less likely they will be to turn to gangs and crime.
"It is a priority of mine to bring home federal funding that will invest in our own communities, especially for the education of our youth" said Congresswoman Linda Sánchez. "During these tough economic times, smart investments in our children and workforce will yield great rewards for local families."
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