U.S. Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-5) secured over $15 million in federal funding for 15 local projects in his southeastern Queens district.
The projects range from environmental restoration projects to workforce development, as well as affordable housing for vulnerable groups. In total, he secured $15,489,582 that will directly affect residents of southeast Queens.
“These investments grow our economy, making a real difference in the lives of so many people in our community,” said Meeks in a statement. “I am proud to advocate for funding that will make our community healthier, safer, and stronger.”
Close to $1.5 million was designated for Chhaya Community Development Corporation which provides resources to the South Asian and Indo- Caribbean communities across the city. Based in Jackson Heights, with another center in Richmond Hill, the nonprofit offers a range of immigration resources, financial counseling and tenant advocacy.
The largest share of the funds, $3.5 million, was allocated to the Goodrich Legacy Center, located on Baisley Boulevard in Jamaica, for youth and adult workforce development training. Another organization that facilitates workforce development, Rockaway Community Center for Youth, received $125,000.
The second largest share went to an ongoing environmental restoration project in Jamaica Bay. Meeks secured $2,750,000 to go to the US Army Corps that is currently supporting the Hudson-Raritan Estuary Restoration project. In the ecologically diverse bay, 62 of the 16,000 acres are currently in the process of being restored.
Another environmental project to receive funding is CUNY York College in Jamaica, which received $300,000 for upgrades to its wind tunnel lab and power supply.
Bright Future Community, a far Rockaway based organization that supports affordable housing and economic development, received $810,000. The fund will go to the organization’s Rock Studios to work with small ethnic food businesses.
Meeks also designated $963,000 to support the King of Kings Foundation’s Strong Families programs, which provides assistance to families in crisis. Another $1 million was designated for the Jewish Community Council of the Rockaway Peninsula (JCCRP) to strengthen its security.
Greater Allen, a methodist church in Jamaica, received $1 million to develop affordable housing. They currently have a waitlist for affordable housing for seniors 62 or older with income restrictions. And Robert Couche Senior Center, less than a mile away, received $100,303 to make capital improvements to its facility on Farmers Boulevard where the organization runs a food pantry.
Half a million was designated to The Shared Kitchen Accelerator and Launchpad for Entrepreneurs (SKALE) to support its small business food incubator. And another half million will go towards the construction of a new Emergency Operation Center in Broad Channel.
Fellow Queens Representatives in Congress also secured millions in local funding for their districts. Rep. Grace Meng allocated $13 million for fifteen organizations across central Queens and Rep. Nydia Velázquez secured $11 million, distributed among her district comprised of north Brooklyn and southwest Queens.
