FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 23, 2004

Contact: Ben Allen (202) 225-4361

Serrano Secures Over $17 Million in Federal Funding for Local Projects

 

November 23, 2004,
Washington, DC
—This weekend, Congressman José E. Serrano (D-NY), the only Member of Congress from
New York City
on the House Appropriations Committee, secured $17.9 million in federal funding for nearly 50 projects in the 16th Congressional District in the
Bronx
, as well as $1 million for a restoration project on

Vieques

Island

,
Puerto Rico
. 

 

 

“This year’s bill provides much needed resources to a number of institutions and community organizations that improve the lives of
Bronx
residents,” said Serrano.  “I am proud to be able to deliver for our community, and will continue to fight for
New York
’s fair share of federal funding.”

 

 

“Congressman Serrano has been very supportive of us and so many other worthy groups in the Bronx and it is in large part due to him that we have been able to grow and flourish as a non-profit health care provider,” said Verona Greenland, President and CEO of the Morris Heights Health Center, a local community-based health care provider that received an earmark grant secured by Serrano in the omnibus bill.  “This is going to help us to transform this part of our neighborhood into a viable community by providing jobs and expanding our health services to those who need it most, namely seniors and children.” 

 

“Congressman Serrano made me smile this evening and created miles of smiles when he called to tell us that Casita Maria would receive $100,000 for job creation-related activities in 2005 through the Small Business Administration,” said Lue Ann Eldar, President and CEO of Casita Maria, a community organization that provides after-school and summer programs for at-risk youth.  “Our organization is seventy years old and we want to be around another seventy years and beyond.  To do this, we have to be relevant.   And this is just the type of visionary support that keeps us delivering services that are of importance to the community.  On behalf of Casita Maria and a very grateful community, we applaud Congressman Serrano and his efforts!  Without him, we realize this grant would not have been possible.”

 

 

The funds, which Serrano obtained directly through earmarks in appropriations bills, are in addition to millions of dollars in competitive grants that federal agencies make to organizations in the 16th Congressional District in response to grant applications for which Serrano provides assistance and support.  They are also in addition to hundreds of millions of federal dollars that flow to the 16th District every year to support housing, nutrition, education, law enforcement, transportation, environmental protection and improvement, and other vital governmental activities. 

 

 

Projects receiving funding include modernization work at the Arthur Avenue Retail Market; the High Bridge Rehabilitation Project, which will rehabilitate and reopen the historic High Bridge over the Harlem River; Regatta Park, part of a 3 ½ mile greenway along the shore of the Harlem River in the Bronx; connecting the Bronx River Greenway from Westchester Avenue to East Tremont for walking, cycling, skating, and hiking; and improving transportation facilities and the Conservation Institute at the Bronx Zoo.  

 

 

Other projects included funding for

Bronx

River

restoration; community programs at Bronx Shepherds; at-risk youth programs at the Mary Mitchell Family and

Youth

Center

; Youth Ministries; the City Parks Foundation;

Lehman

College

; Sistas and Brothas United;

Woodycrest

Center

for Human Development; and Casita Maria, as well as funding for the Health Disparity in the South Bronx Study.

 

 

In addition to these local earmarks, completely listed below, Serrano was able to secure funding for environmental restoration on Vieques island,
Puerto Rico
by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). 

 

Serrano is a member of the powerful House Appropriations Committee, which is the source of funding for agencies and programs across the federal government.  He serves as the Ranking Democrat on its Subcommittee that funds the Departments of Commerce, Justice, and State, the federal judiciary, and several independent agencies, such as the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Small Business Administration, Legal Services Corporation, and Civil Rights Commission.  He is also the third ranking Democrat on its Subcommittee on Homeland Security.

 

 

The following is a list of the programs and community organizations, loosely categorized, for which Congressman Serrano helped secure funding for fiscal year 2005:

 

 

 

ARTS & HISTORICAL PRESERVATION 

 

Example: Much needed funding for the historic preservation of esteemed architect Stanford White’s college complex at

Bronx

Community College

.  The monies will be used for upkeep, renovation, and preservation of 100+ year old buildings of particular historical and architectural merit at the College.

 

 

Other arts projects receiving funding through Congressman Serrano:

• Pregones Theater
• Puerto Rican Traveling Theater

   

 

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

 

 

Example: Promesa Enterprises, a key player in the economic revival of some of the neediest parts of the
South Bronx
, will receive money to continue its successful funding of start-up businesses and ongoing community-based businesses, assisting them with management expertise, equity and debt capital, and corporation services such as payroll and accounting assistance.

 

 

Other community / business development projects receiving funding through Congressman Serrano are:

• Arthur Avenue
  Retail Market
• HOGAR, Inc.
• Promesa Foundation
• Urban Market Development: Garden Mosaics and Urban Agriculture (

  Cornell
  
  University

  Cooperative Extension /
  Bronx
  )

   

 

 

EDUCATION / YOUTH PROGRAMS

 

Example: Funding for Sistas and Brothas United, an organization that works with youth in the
Northwest Bronx
to serve as an alternative to the draw of gangs and drugs in the area.  It has an active after-school peer tutoring program that matches the participants with students from

Fordham

University

and

Manhattan

College

, as well as high school honor students.  In addition to academics, the program also provides leadership training and exposure to organizing campaigns, and direct action to help build the capacity of young people in their neighborhoods.

 

 

Other educational and youth programs receiving funding through Congressman Serrano are:

 

• Bronx
  Shepherds
• Casita Maria
• City Parks Foundation - Bronx

• Fordham
  
  University
  
  Regional
  
  Education
  
  Technology
  
  Center

• Fordham Youth Ministry

• Hostos
  
  Community College

  /

  Columbia
  
  University

  / Serrano Scholars

• Lehman College Youth Leadership Training Institute
• Mary Mitchell Family and

  Youth
  
  Center

   

• Phipps Houses,

  Community
  
  Technology
  
  Center

  in West Farms

   

• Pro Co

  Technology
  
  Computer
  
  Training
  
  Center

   

• Woodycrest
  
  Center

  for Human Development

• Youth Ministries for Peace and Justice

 

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE / GREENSPACE 

 

Example: The Bronx River Greenway, a long term project that seeks to make the

Bronx

River

corridor a space for biking, hiking, walking and skating for Bronxites young and old.  This year, Congressman Serrano has secured funding for a “Central Link” for the Greenway between
Westchester
and East Tremont Avenues, in the West Farms area of the
South Bronx
.

 

 

Other environmental projects receiving funding through Congressman Serrano are:

• Bronx
  
  Community College

  , Center for Sustainable Energy

   

• Bronx
  
  River

  Restoration - National Marine Fisheries Services

   

• Cornell
  
  University

  Cooperative Extension
  Bronx
  Projects--Urban Silviculture, Urban Market Development / Garden Mosaics

   

• Crotona
  
  Park

  (

  NYC
  
  Parks

  and Recreation)

   

• Health Disparity in the
  South Bronx
  Study
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Vieques cleanup

• Orchard
  
  Beach

  (

  NYC
  
  Parks

  and Recreation)

   

• Regatta
  
  Park

  ,
  Harlem River
  Greenway (

  NYC
  
  Parks

  and Recreation)

   

• Soundview
  
  Park

  (

  NYC
  
  Parks

  and Recreation)

   

 

 

HEALTHCARE

 

Example: The creation of a comprehensive Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine Health Program to be located at the Bronx-Lebanon Hospital Center’s Third Avenue ambulatory site.  This program will provide comprehensive services to the Bronx adolescent and young adult population including a teen pregnancy program, sexually transmitted disease clinic, immunization and primary care services, mental health services, substance abuse counseling, health education, and teen parenting classes.

 

 

Other health care organizations receiving funding through Congressman Serrano are:

• Morris
  
  Heights
  
  Health
  
  Center

• Family Support Systems Unlimited, Inc.

 

HOUSING / SENIORS

 

Example: The Presbyterian Senior Services Grandparent Family Apartments program is a new and innovative project that will fill a much needed gap in housing needs in the
South Bronx
community for grandparents raising their grandchildren.  To qualify for housing in these units the adult must be 62 or older and the children under the age of 17 and related to the adult.  On-site there will be support services, activities, and 24-hour security for the residents. 

 

Other projects receiving funding through Congressman Serrano that provide substantial support for seniors (each is also mentioned elsewhere in this document) are:

• Bronx
  Shepherds
• HOGAR, Inc.

• Morris
  
  Heights
  
  Health
  
  Center

• Thorpe Family Residence, Inc.

   

JUSTICE

 

Example: The

Urban

Justice

Center

, a not-for-profit legal services organization that provides free legal and advocacy services to homeless and marginally housed individuals throughout
New York City
. 

 

 

RESEARCH

 

 

Example: The Health Disparity in the South Bronx Study, that builds on the important South Bronx Air Pollution Study, will examine the causal factors for the asthma rate disparity in the
South Bronx
, offering data and analysis for policy makers as they seek solutions to the
South Bronx
’s asthma crisis.

 

Other research projects receiving funding through Congressman Serrano are:

• Bronx
  
  Community College

  , Center for Sustainable Energy

   

• Bronx
  
  River Basin

  Ecosystem Restoration Study

   

• Bronx
  Urban Silviculture Study,

  Cornell
  
  University

  Cooperative Extension

   

• Center for Puerto Rican Studies at

  Hunter
  
  College

   

• Conservation Institute at the
  Bronx
  Zoo

   

 

 

TRANSPORTATION

 

Example: The High Bridge Rehabilitation Project, seeking to reopen the historic

High

Bridge

over the
Harlem River
, reconstructing the pedestrian promenade, securing the expansion joints, repainting the central steel arch, restoring the railings and other iron elements, and the stabilization of the aqueduct pipes.

 

 

Other transportation projects receiving funding through Congressman Serrano are:

• Arthur Avenue
  Retail Market parking facility

   

• Bronx
  Zoo Inter-Modal Transportation Facility