Projects include expanding public trails, providing law enforcement with better equipment, and supporting troubled teens

 

U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05), a member of the House Committee on Appropriations and Chair of the Financial Services and General Government Subcommittee, announced that he has secured more than $16.5 million in Community Project Funding in the Fiscal Year 2023 appropriations government funding package, which has now passed the House and Senate. The bill is headed to the President’s desk for signature. This success builds on the ten projects Quigley secured funding for in the FY22 funding package, meaning he has now brought home more than $26.8 million dollars for local projects.

“I am proud to have secured more than $16.5 in Community Project Funding that I know meets long overdue community needs in Illinois’s 5th District,” said Quigley. “This funding will not only impact the organizations directly involved but will have a ripple effect on everyone living in the 5th district. It will improve our schools and learning centers, help protect our law enforcement, upgrade our parks and trails, and expand access to physical and mental health services. I look forward to seeing this funding delivered and continuing to learn how I can help make our community a better place to live for all.”

Quigley championed fifteen projects, securing a total of $16,532,425 in funding. A summary of the projects that have been passed by Congress, and their funding level, is available below:

• $1,440,000 for the 606 Trail Extension – Ashland Ave to Elston Ave

“Bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure like the 606 that appeals to people of all ages and abilities will encourage more people to walk and bike to work, to school or for recreation,” said Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle. “The Long Range Transportation Plan that guides Cook County’s work prioritizes these forms of active transportation, along with transit, because of their health and environmental benefits. Through partnerships with the City of Chicago and other agencies, Cook County is committed to implementing key bicycle and pedestrian connections that enhance communities and provide new transportation options.”

• $250,000 for the AIDS Foundation of Chicago, Chicago, IL for training and services to better support seniors living with HIV

“Thankfully, people who are living with HIV and taking medication are living longer. HIV care providers and our supporting partners need training and education to meet the evolving and complex needs of people with HIV as they grow older,” said John Peller, AIDS Foundation Chicago’s President/CEO. “Thanks to support from Congressman Quigley, we’ll develop different levels of training to educate Chicago-area HIV providers about the challenges of aging. We’re thankful that Congressman Quigley recognizes the importance of making these culturally responsive training options a reality.”

• $1,000,000 for the Black Ensemble Theater Cultural Center Building Improvements and Enhancements

“The funding will have a tremendous impact, helping to ensure the longevity and sustainability of our beautiful Black Ensemble Theater Cultural Center for decades – allowing us to update and replace many systems in the theater and enhancing different sections of the building itself. Through this funding, audiences and students will experience an outstanding state of the art, major cultural institution where diversity, equity and inclusion will thrive for many generations to come,” said Jackie Taylor, Founder and CEO of Black Ensemble Theater.

 

• $2,000,000 for the California Park Multi-Use Trail Connection and $750,000 for the Lincoln Park Conservatory Renovations

“I’d like to thank Congressman Mike Quigley for supporting our parks and securing funds for trail development along the Chicago River and restoration work for the Lincoln Park Conservatory,” said General Superintendent & CEO Rosa Escareño. “The new multi-use trail will provide his constituents and the city with increased access to the riverfront while upgrades to the Conservatory will help preserve this historic gem for future generations. These investments reach beyond improving our parks and truly enhance recreational experiences for Chicago residents, particularly for our youth and their families.”

• $750,000 for the Capital Improvements for the Carole Robertson Center for Learning at Albany Park

“The Carole Robertson Center for Learning is a nonprofit early childhood and youth development provider in the Albany Park community. It is in our DNA to believe that the children and youth we serve through our high-quality programs are deserving of spaces that are not only safe and sound but also inspiring and conducive to learning and enrichment,” said Bela Moté, President and CEO of the Carole Robertson Center for Learning. “Economic Development Initiative funding would enable the Carole Robertson Center to initiate several critical infrastructure investments at our Albany Park site so it can continue to be a catalyst for our economy: families can work, go to school, or otherwise pursue their own economic mobility while their children are learning, growing and thriving to reach their potential.”

• $500,000 for the Chicago Public Schools, Chicago, IL for arts education, including equipment and supplies

“CPS is grateful to Congressman Mike Quigely for championing our families and students to provide resources to support our art programs in several schools,” said Chicago Public Schools CEO Pedro Martinez. “These funds support our commitment to making sure all students have access to art classes in the coming school year for a well-rounded education.”

• $3,200,000 for the City of Northlake for a Sanitary Sewer Lining Replacement Project

“Ensuring the integrity of Northlake’s sanitary sewer system through the use of the CIP lining process will protect the environment and reduce the risk of basement flooding by the elimination of inflow and infiltration of ground and stormwater as well as outward migration of sewage,” said Mayor of Northlake, Jeff Sherwin.

 

• $1,500,000 for the Field Museum Facilities Upgrade

“This project will reap real and measurable benefits for the environment and for the people of Chicago.  We are grateful to Congressman Quigley for these funds, which will enable us to replace 50-year-old air handling systems in our century-old landmark building, significantly reducing the Field Museum’s overall energy consumption, lowering its greenhouse gas emissions, and improving indoor air quality for our staff and more than one million annual visitors as well as storage conditions for our irreplaceable scientific collections,” said Dr. Julian Siggers, Field Museum President and CEO.

• $540,000 for the Get Behind the Vest

“One bullet can change a police officer’s life forever…56: The number of Chicago police officers shot in the line of duty and saved by bulletproof vests since 1980,” said Philip Cline, Executive Director of the Chicago Police Memorial Foundation. “One of the most important initiatives that the Chicago Police Memorial Foundation conducts is their Get Behind the Vest program. Each year, this program raises funds specifically to purchase ballistic vests which are provided free of charge to Chicago Police Officers whose vests are at or near their expiration date which is five years.  Thanks to Congressman Quigley’s grant request, we will be able to purchase ballistic vests and protect those who protect us.”

• $1,110,400 for the Howard Brown Health, Chicago, IL for facilities and equipment

“The award of $1.1 million to Howard Brown Health will help offset the costs of our future dental clinic on north Halsted. Scheduled to open in 2023, the clinic embeds oral health as part of Howard Brown’s comprehensive model of affirming LGBTQ+ care. We are so grateful for the ongoing support from Congressman Quigley.  This appropriation would greatly contribute to positive health outcomes for the communities we serve,” said David Ernesto Munar, President and CEO of Howard Brown Health.

• $1,500,000 for the Lake View YMCA Aquatics Expansion

“Confidence and life-savings skills can begin in the Y pool, and funding for the Lake View YMCA Aquatics Expansion will help meet the growing needs for aquatics programming and water safety lessons,” said Karen Dziagwa, Executive Director of the Lake View YMCA. “The Lakeview neighborhood’s close proximity to Lake Michigan makes it critical for children to learn to swim.  The support of Congressman Quigley allows the Y to provide additional programs to keep people safe around water by providing swim lessons, swim team, open swim, lap swim and water exercise classes for years to come.”

• $1,022,000 for the Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago, IL for STEM education, including teacher stipends

“As a senior Member of the Appropriations Committee Congressman Quigley is in an important position to help close the education gap and provide greater opportunity for thousands of kids from backgrounds currently underrepresented in STEM fields.  We are gratified that Mr. Quigley recognizes the important role the Museum of Science and Industry plays in providing K-8 science education in schools across Chicago,” said Chevy Humphrey, President and CEO, Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago. “The funding he has requested will allow us to expand the quality programs we offer to students and teachers, particularly in underserved areas of the City, inspiring more children to think and dream big and preparing them for careers that will allow them to accomplish great things.”

• $375,000 for the National Runaway Switchboard, Chicago, IL for the Teen Suicide Prevention Line to provide mental health services, including technology, public awareness, training, and equipment

“For the past few years, our team at the National Runaway Safeline (NRS) has been hearing from an alarming number of young people who are experiencing depression, anxiety, trauma, loneliness, fear and suicidality,” said Susan Frankel, CEO of the Chicago-based organization. “While we have been responding to their mental health needs with the available tools and resources we have had, we are truly grateful to Congressman Quigley and the federal government for appropriating funds for the Illinois Teen Suicide Prevention Line. This new service will enable us to provide more targeted interventions and potentially life-saving support for youth in crisis throughout the state.”

• $595,025 for the Shedd Aquarium, Chicago, IL for STEAM education

“As a beloved inland, urban aquarium and a leader in education, we are committed to connecting students in Chicago with the aquatic animal world,” said Lisa Junkin Lopez, vice president of learning and community at Shedd Aquarium. “Through the Pathways to Environmental Education Initiative, Shedd will advance equitable STEAM learning opportunities by addressing and dismantling persistent barriers while providing real-world experiences focused on expanding environmental and scientific literacy, developing critical transferable 21st-century skills, and building job readiness.”

Overall, the twelve-bill government funding package will create good-paying American jobs, grow opportunity for the middle class and small businesses, and provide a lifeline for working families. Taken together, the funding for Illinois’s 5th District and the funding increases for critical government programs will continue to reverse decades of disinvestment in our communities.

A detailed summary of the bill is available here.

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Originally Appeared Here