Gallego, Local Leaders Cheer Community Project Funding Heading to Arizona’s Seventh Congressional District
Rep. Gallego went 10 for 10 in securing funding for community projects in AZ-07
Total funding for projects is more than $8.6 million
PHOENIX, AZ –Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) proudly announced more than $8.6 million in community project funding for 10 projects in Arizona’s seventh congressional district.
“Our office is proud to have secured funding for these 10 community projects. The recipients represent the best of our state, and I know this funding will go a long way to help all Arizonans, grow our economy, and build an Arizona welcoming to all residents now and in the future,” said Rep. Ruben Gallego (AZ-07). “No corner of our community will be untouched by this funding, and as these dollars flow into the Seventh Congressional District, I look forward to hearing the success stories of how these projects made a difference.”
As part of the FY22 appropriations process, the House Appropriations Committee announced a new Community Project Funding (CPF) program that allows Members of Congress to submit no more than 10 eligible requests to set aside funds within specific federal accounts for certain projects proposed by public institutions, localities, states, Tribes, or non-profits. Rep. Gallego submitted 10 requests for Arizona’s seventh congressional district, and all 10 programs received funding from Congress.
“U.S.VETS would like to thank Congressman Ruben Gallego for his continued support and long-standing commitment to ending veteran homelessness,” said U.S.VETS. “U.S.VETS is honored to receive this essential funding to renovate our new facility, which will provide transitional housing to 185 veterans in the Phoenix area, in addition to mental health and career placement services to many more. We are grateful for this opportunity to serve more homeless and at-risk Veterans across our community.”
“Chicanos Por La Causa is sincerely grateful to be a part of the community funding project. These resources will enable us to thoroughly rehabilitate a 6,300 square foot commercial space that will provide valuable support services to our community of veterans in need,” said David Adame, President & CEO of Chicanos Por La Causa.“These services will help those experiencing housing instability, food shortages, provide workforce development training, and access to computers to apply for benefits or apply for a job. While the need is great, we recognize the important sacrifice our veterans have made in support of our freedom. Likewise, we want to be there to support them now in their time of need.”
The City of Glendale is grateful for the federal funding provided in the FY2022 Omnibus. Our 9-1-1 Call Center serves hundreds of thousands of residents each year and the appropriation championed by Congressman Gallego and the Arizona Congressional delegation will address critical upgrades to the system,” said City of Glendale Mayor Jerry P. Weiers.
Our Arizona O.I.C family and total community is grateful beyond measure for the blessing of the monetary resources for our Arizona Hospitality Training Program, said Arizona O.I.C. CEO Gene C. Blue. “This funding is truly life-giving to our efforts of helping others grow and sustain themselves economically.”
"Be A Leader Foundation is incredibly proud to work side by side with Congressman Gallego’s office in providing support to our students and families as they strive to continue their education post high school and create systemic change within their families and communities,” said Be A Leader Foundation President & CEO Melissa Trujillo. “The devastating effects from the COVID-19 pandemic on educational outcomes in both our community and nationwide will linger for years to come and if not addressed will contribute to increased social and health disparities for our students and families. Increasing access to higher education, therefore, is one of our greatest levers to increase social mobility and healthy communities. This crucial investment in our re-engagement programs will undoubtedly impact the economic mobility of our students and families, allowing them to pursue educational dreams that will help sustain their families and the healthy, vibrant Phoenix community we all hope for."
“The Town of Guadalupe appreciates Congressman Gallego’s leadership efforts to secure full funding for the Highline Canal project in Guadalupe. This project will improve neighborhood and pedestrian safety along the canal by restoring much needed canal path lighting. We look forward to getting the project under construction soon after funding is allocated,” said Town of Guadalupe Mayor Valerie Molina.
"We are incredibly thankful for Congressman Gallego’s persistence and hard work in helping us secure funding for the Tolleson’s Well Site #8,” said Tolleson Mayor Juan F. Rodriguez. “We are grateful for Congressman’s Gallego’s diligence and continued focus in helping our community.”
“On behalf of the Pascua Yaqui people, I would like to extend our sincere gratitude to Congressman Gallego for helping to secure this funding,” said Chairman Peter Yucupicio, Pascua Yaqui Tribe. “This will have a major impact on our current and future generations. Providing much needed access to computers and technology and provide a place to come together and share our sacred culture.
“Thanks to Congress and especially thanks to Congressman Ruben Gallego for your support in our Community Fund Project. Terros Health will be able to impact more lives by providing more accessible and affordable integrated care to more patients in a highly underserved area of Phoenix with a special focus on adolescent services,” said Peggy Chase, Terros Health’s President and CEO.
Here is the full list of recipients and their funding amounts:
Project Name: Renovation for Veteran Transition Housing Program
Recipient: United States Veterans Initiative- Phoenix (U.S. VETS)
Recipient Address: 3507 N. Central Ave. Ste. 200, Phoenix, Arizona 85012
Amount Requested: $1,500,000
Project Purpose and Explanation: Project funding will allow U.S. VETS to renovate and upgrade a building to house many of the District’s most vulnerable veterans, many of whom would be otherwise homeless. This is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because it will allow U.S. VETS to take Veterans off the street, provides them with a warm meal, a bed to sleep in, and opportunities for comprehensive support including mental and physical health care, workforce training, benefit attainment, counseling, and peer mentoring that will ultimately assist them in obtaining permanent housing.
Project Name: Vista Village Resident Service Center
Recipient: Chicanos Por La Causa, Inc. (CPLC)
Recipient Address: 1112 E. Buckeye Rd. Phoenix, AZ 85034
Amount Requested: $1,391,402
Project Purpose and Explanation: Project funding will allow CPLC to renovate a building that will house non-profits providing wrap-around services to the 80-unit Vista Village affordable housing complex also run by CPLC that serves low-income residents and special populations including homeless, veterans, seniors, and domestic violence survivors. This project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because it will enable the provision of case management, education and employment counseling, meal assistance, family support and crisis intervention, substance abuse treatment and more to vulnerable low-income housing residents and the nearby community.
Project Name: Edison Impact Hub
Recipient: City of Phoenix
Recipient Address: 200 West Washington Street, 12th Floor Phoenix, AZ 85003
Amount Requested: $1,000,000
Project Purpose and Explanation: Project funding will allow the City of Phoenix to renovate the historic Crippled Children's Hospital from a vacant, dilapidated building to a community services center, named the Edison Impact Hub, in the Edison-Eastlake Community. Renovations will include interior and exterior improvements, returning the exterior facade to its original historic state, and public art, walkability and open space additions. This project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because it will allow the Edison Impact Hub to ultimately house a Federally Qualified Health Care (FQHC) medical and behavioral health clinic, a community commercial kitchen and garden, workspace and training for small businesses, and other services aligning with the community-driven Edison-Eastlake One Vision transformation plan.
Project Name: Arizona Hospitality Academy (AHA)
Recipient: Arizona Opportunities Industrialization Center (AOIC)
Recipient Address: 39 East Jackson Street, Phoenix, AZ 85004
Amount Requested: $1,200,000
Project funding will allow the AOIC to create, as part of its existing job training programming, the Arizona Hospitality Academy (AHA). The AHA will work with area hotels and resorts, the Culinary Workers Union, federal, state, and local governments, to train and place job-ready candidates in industry positions following the successful model of the Culinary Academy of Las Vegas. This project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because it will generate value for (1) economically disadvantaged and racial minority residents of the Phoenix metropolitan area by providing a secure pathway to employment and a career in hospitality, (2) the hospitality industry by creating a sustained pipeline of qualified employees, and (3) the city of Phoenix as it will reduce unemployment and cement the city's status as a world-class tourism destination with excellent hotels, restaurants, and bars.
Project Name: Class of 2020 and 2021 Re-Engagement Project
Recipient: Be A Leader Foundation
Recipient Address: 1717 W. Northern Ave, Suite 116, Phoenix, AZ 85021.
Amount Requested: $175,000
Project Purpose and Explanation: Project funding for the Class of 2020 and 2021 Postsecondary Re-Engagement Project will allow Be A Leader to target graduates from two of the most diverse high school districts in Arizona and provide them with individualized support with the financial aid and post-secondary application process, and support through their first semester of college. This project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because, by assisting these students, many of whom are Hispanic, Black, or Native American (90%) and experiencing poverty (74%), the program will increase the future earning power of these students, break generational cycles of poverty, and combat the declining number of District 7 students enrolling in college due to the pandemic.
Project Name: Glendale 911 Communication Center Upgrades
Recipient: City of Glendale
Recipient Address: 5850 W. Glendale Ave, Glendale, AZ 85301
Amount Requested: $480,000
Project Purpose and Explanation: Project funding will allow the City of Glendale to upgrade the technologically outdated 911 Communication Center that serves as the primary answering point for all emergency and non-emergency Police, Fire, and EMS calls within the Glendale city limits. This project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because, due to the increase in the volume of calls and the short-term and long-term growth projected in the city and county, public safety administrators fear that call demands are outpacing technological resources. This project will ensure that Glendale’s 911 Communication Center is up to date and remains viable for decades to come.
Project Name: Highline Canal Recreational Path Lighting Replacement
Recipient Name: Town of Guadalupe
Recipient Address: 5928 E. Calle Guadalupe, Guadalupe, AZ 85283
Amount Requested: $501,824
Project Purpose and Explanation: Project funding will enable the Town of Guadalupe to replace the 76 presently inoperable solar-powered path lighting fixtures and poles to improve path lighting and safety along the Highline Canal path. The current lighting system has been subjected to repeated vandalism and theft. This is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because it will increase opportunities for safe recreational activities and exercise for an underserved community in Guadalupe, AZ.
Project Name: Potable Water Well #8 Drainage Project
Recipient Name: City of Tolleson
Recipient Address: 9555 W. Van Buren St. Tolleson, AZ 85353
Amount Requested: $638,000
Project Purpose and Explanation: Project funding will allow the City of Tolleson to relocate and make improvements to an existing well drainage area to provide more efficient and reliable maintenance for a potable water well. This project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because it assures the delivery of quality water to the underserved population of the City of Tolleson.
Project Name: Pascua Yaqui Tribe Child Education Center
Recipient: Pascua Yaqui Tribe
Recipient Address: 7474 South Camino De Oeste, Tucson, Arizona 85746
Amount Requested: $840,000
Project Purpose and Explanation: Project funding will allow the Pascua Yaqui Tribe to construct an Education Center in the Town of Guadalupe targeted towards Pascua Yaqui Youth and open to the community. This two-story facility would house an Internet Cafe for the public, classroom and virtual learning space for disadvantaged K-12 students, and an administrative area for faculty and staff. This project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because it will provide needed access to broadband and community space to students, individuals and organizations in an underserved area that is 93% Hispanic and Native American with a median household income 40% than the average in Maricopa County.
Project Name: Terros Health McDowell Health Center Service Expansion
Recipient: Terros, Inc. DBA Terros Health
Recipient Address: 3003 North Central Avenue, Ste 400, Phoenix, Arizona 85012
Amount Requested: $900,000
Project Purpose and Explanation: Project funding will allow Terros McDowell Health Center to renovate 10,000 square feet of space to 1) expand the primary care area from three exam rooms to nine exam rooms supporting three primary care providers; 2) further integration with primary care providers and psychiatric providers located in the same area; and 3) incorporate specialty services for adolescents with our innovative Café program model focused on caring for high-risk and at-risk youth in our communities. Patient capacity would increase from 2,000 to 6,000 individuals. This is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because it will enable the expansion of primary care and behavioral and mental health services to an underserved area of the City of Phoenix.