Rep. Kelly Secures $6.7 Million in Funding for District Community Projects

WASHINGTON, DC – Today Congresswoman Robin L. Kelly (IL-02) announced that all 10 of her Community Project Funding requests have been included in the House Appropriations bills. The 10 projects total $6,786,000 in funding, which will come back to support the projects in Illinois' Second Congressional District. The House bills will be debated on the floor and voted on this week.

"The funding included for our district in the Appropriations minibus will help establish and sustain projects supporting our infrastructure, technology, public safety, education and public health," said Congresswoman Kelly. "I look forward to seeing this bill through the final stages of the legislative process and ensuring that this funding makes its way back to our district."

Congresswoman Kelly worked with local leaders to identify eligible projects and move them through the submission process in accordance with House committee guidance.

Under guidelines issued by the Appropriations Committee, each Representative may request funding for up to 10 projects in their communities for fiscal year 2022 – although only a handful may actually be funded. Projects are restricted to a limited number of federal funding streams, and only state and local governments and eligible non-profit entities are permitted to receive funding. Additional information on the reforms governing Community Project Funding is available here.

Congresswoman Robin Kelly submitted the following projects for funding:

Project Name: Pembroke Township Integrated Infrastructure Pilot
Requested Amount: $3,000,000
Funded Amount: $3,000,000
Intended Recipient: Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) on behalf of Community Development Corporation of Pembroke and Hopkins Park
Explanation of Request: The project would extend scalable access to approximately 850 residences, businesses and community anchor institutions throughout the entire 52-square-mile Pembroke Township footprint. Pembroke is a very rural, historically impoverished and dramatically underserved community that lacks communications and energy infrastructure, including wireline broadband, cellular and natural gas.

Project Name: SouthCom Technology Upgrades
Requested Amount: $275,500
Funded Amount: $276,000
Intended Recipient: SouthCom 9-1-1 Dispatch Center, 21113 Dettmering Street, Matteson, IL 60443
Explanation of Request: The project will provide funding for systems that will provide more detailed information to the public and coordination amongst first responders. It will also provider quicker response times, more efficient dispatching and allow SouthCom to provide a higher level of service to member agencies and the citizens in the Villages of Matteson, Richton Park, and Olympia Fields.

Project Name: University Park Police Department Cameras
Requested Amount: $20,000
Funded Amount: $20,000
Intended Recipient: University Park Police Department, 650 Burnham Drive, University Park, OL 60484
Explanation of Request: The purchase of 22 body worn cameras and seven squad car cameras used to enhance community and law enforcement trust relations, traffic enforcement, case credibility and to meet new Illinois police reform mandates. The purchase will aid in training, crime prevention and enhance public trust and officer safety.

Project Name: Ascending House
Requested Amount: $200,000
Funded Amount: $200,000
Intended Recipient: Chicago Southland Economic Incubator, 1904 174th St, Hazel Crest, IL 60429
Explanation of Request: Funding will support the mission of the Chicago Southland Economic Incubator. Ascending House will provide the necessary software, tools (video conference room, studio, printing lab), and connections to interns and new employees that start-ups may not have access to otherwise due to high costs or lack of know-how. Funding will go towards creating a video conference center, a podcast studio, and an advanced printing lab. Additionally, it will provide for the E-Commerce Entrepreneurs training program and operating InternMatch Illinois, which is a match-making platform for small businesses to find the right interns.

Project Name: Chicago Public Schools Enrichment Program
Requested Amount: $495,000
Funded Amount: $500,000
Intended Recipient: Chicago Public Schools, 42 W Madison St Chicago, IL 60602
Explanation of Request: This project would upgrade arts programs, facilities and technology at six CPS schools: Haley Elementary School for Fine and Performing Arts, Washington, Elementary School for Fine and Performing Arts, Corliss High School for STEM, Owens Elementary School for STEM, Powell Elementary School for Personalized Learning, and Smith Elementary School for Personalized Learning.

Project Name: Behavioral Health Telemedicine for Emergency Room Access
Requested Amount: $625,000
Funded Amount: $625,000
Intended Recipient: Franciscan Health Olympia Fields, 20201 Crawford Avenue, Olympia Fields, IL 60461
Explanation of Request: This project funding will enable the emergency room to treat and diagnose patients at the time of admission to the emergency room. Currently, Franciscan Health does not have a 24 hour-a-day, 7-day-a-week coverage for behavioral health patients, causing a delay in diagnoses and treatment. Behavioral health physicians are difficult to recruit, and utilizing telehealth is cost-effective option and allows patients to be treated in real time.

Project Name: Career Center Technology Upgrades and Guidance Counselor Support
Requested Amount: $177,630
Funded Amount: $175,000
Intended Recipient: Kankakee Area Career Center, 4083 N 1000 W Road, Bourbonnais, IL 60914
Explanation of Request: Kankakee Area Career Center has a great need to upgrade equipment and technology related to curriculum and add a professional counselor. The project will focus on four programs for technology/equipment upgrades: Fire-Rescue-Emergency Medical Responder; Certified Nurse Assistant Training and Health Occupations; Engineering and Design; and Automotive Technology. The Career Guidance Counselor will serve students in 12 occupational programs. Kankakee Area Career Center serves almost 800 students daily (890 pre-enrolled for next year), with no professional guidance counselor on staff.

Project Name: Childbirth Simulator
Requested Amount: $90,879
Funded Amount: $90,000
Intended Recipient: Olivet Nazarene University, One University Avenue, Box 6012, Bourbonnais, IL 60914
Explanation of Request: Olivet Nazarene University (ONU) offers a four-year Baccalaureate Nursing degree preparing students to be effective and competent Registered Nurses. ONU has a full and well-equipped simulation lab, with the exception of the childbirth simulator. Purchasing a new childbirth simulator will provide students with the knowledge and practice to be competent and enter the nursing workforce. Funding this project will help prepare students for hospital units and contribute to a safer environment for patients and medical staff.

Project Name: CTA Red Line Extension – Workforce Development
Requested Amount: $1,500,000
Funded Amount: $1,500,000
Intended Recipient: Chicago Transit Authority, 567 W. Lake Street, Chicago, IL 60661
Explanation of Request: The Red Line Extension (RLE) Project will extend the Red Line south 5.6 miles from the 95^th Street Terminal to 130^th Street. The Workforce Development project would provide workforce training and support services, such as mentorship, training, transportation and childcare grants, as well as placement of candidates in jobs on CTA projects and external projects.

Project Name: Residential Blight Reduction
Requested Amount: $400,000
Funded Amount: $400,000
Intended Recipient: City of Harvey, 15320 Broadway Ave, Harvey, IL 60426
Explanation of Request: This project includes the demolition of 40 city-owned, blighted residential structures. This project represents the first phase of the Harvey Residential Reactivation Program, which aims to revitalize Harvey's neighborhoods by removing and reactivating blighted residential properties. Removing these buildings would increase neighborhood beautification, accelerate residential redevelopment opportunities, create new public open space and create new jobs and economic opportunities for the city.