Appropriations

Appropriations

In 2022, Members of Congress were permitted to submit Community Project funding request which met the needs of the communities they serve.  In the interest of full and complete transparency, Members are required to post information about the projects they submit to the House Appropriations Committee on their official websites.  Congressman Bilirakis received dozens of high-quality proposals from local governments, municipalities, and non-profits.  While many of these proposals addressed significacnt need within the community, the Congressman could only select 15 projects.  The selected projects are listed below.  

Proposed Recipient: CARES

Address of Recipient:  12417 Clock Tower Parkway, Hudson, FL  34667

Amount of Request: $2.5 million

Project Description and Statement of Public Benefit:  CARES is proposing to purchase land and build an 8,000sf "One Stop Senior Center" in the West/Central Pasco County to include but not limited the communities of: Lands O’Lakes, Trinity, New Port Richey, Hudson, Shady Hills, Port Richey, and other surrounding communities. CARES anticipates promoting quality of life and independence for frail and vulnerable seniors and their families at this center. A safe environment where the lives of senior citizens and their caregivers and families of West/Central Pasco will be enriched by the existence of a "One Stop Senior Center" geared to assist these individuals with in-home and community care to remain living independently in their communities and prevent institutional/nursing home placement. Other direct services will include Adult Day Care facility, Case Management to provide information and referrals, mental health counseling and a FREE Health Clinic for non-invasive medical care.   Land/site acquisition and the construction of an 8,000sf facility to provide public services in partnership with other service providers in the areas of:  Mental Health Counseling, Adult Day Care Facility, Senior Congregate Dining Facility, Case Management, In-home and Community Care, FREE Senior Health Clinic for non-invasive medical care, Intake, Resources and Referrals among other services to enhance the lives of vulnerable seniors and their caregivers.

• Seniors’ needs keep growing and services keep diminishing. 
• The State, federal, local, and private funding/grants are no longer sufficient to meet the demand of our fast growing over 60+ population and their families. 
• The U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration in conjunction with the Aging Integrated Database of the US Administration on Aging reported in 2019 that there were 14,025 medically underserved senior citizens living in Pasco County. 
• The same report showed that during the period of 2012-2016 there were 15,718 probable cases of Alzheimer’s Disease among seniors living throughout Pasco County. 
• The Administration for Community Living in conjunction with the Administration on Aging under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reported on their 2017 Profile of Older Americans published in April 2018 the fact that “Over the past 10 years, the population age 65 and over increased from 37.2 million in 2006 to 49.2 million in 2016 (a 32% increase) and is projected to almost double to 98 million in 2060.”  More alarming statistics in the same report shows that “the 85 and over population is projected to more than double from 6.4 million in 2016 to 14.6 million in 2040 (a 128% increase).” 
• The target population to be served will be 60 years of age and up and 18+ for those young adults with a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s Disease, low income, minority, disadvantage, and disabled adults.  CARES is currently serving over 2,000 frail seniors who receive in-home and in-facility care services in the Central/West Pasco. CARES anticipates adding another 1,000 participants on an annual basis to the different programs offered by CARES through State, Federal and Local funded programs. According to the Florida Department of Elder Affairs there are 3,000+ frail and vulnerable seniors waiting for in-home and in-facility services in Pasco County.

For these reasons, this project is an appropriate and good use of taxpayer funding. 

Link to certification of no economic interest.  

Proposed Recipient: Pinellas Education Foundation

Address of Recipient:   12090 Starkey Rd, Largo, FL 33773

Amount of Request:  $1,229,396

Project Description and Statement of Public Benefit:  The Pinellas Early Literacy Initiative (PELI) prioritizes improvements in literacy instruction for Pre-K – 2nd grade in 16 Title I schools and up to 16 community Pre-K providers. Recognizing that a kindergarten readiness gap exists for Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) participants, particularly for low-income and minority students, this initiative connects public and private Pre-K providers to developmentally appropriate literacy training and coaching. By leveraging high-quality training with coaching for both Pre-K and K-2 teachers, student literacy gaps will dissipate rapidly and prepare students for the more rigorous content of grades 3-5.  Training on the science of reading and evidence-based early literacy practices are essential pathways to excellence. PELI will ensure that 100% of Pre-K-2nd grade teachers at these schools and private providers increase their knowledge of the science of reading and implement evidence-based practices, resulting in improvements in student outcomes.  Ensuring that all students can read by 3rd grade is a community imperative that is being worked on by numerous community agencies in addition to all public and private school systems.  Literate students are better citizens, improve the quality of life for all taxpayers, and increase economic opportunity for themselves and the region.  Educators have long understood that reading achievement is a determinant of academic success in all subject areas. The Pinellas Early Literacy Initiative, a program developed by the Pinellas Education Foundation and Pinellas County Schools, aims to improve kindergarten readiness rates and literacy proficiency among Pre-K and elementary school students. The Initiative focuses on kindergarten readiness by extending the science of reading into Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) and K-2 classrooms where teachers have an opportunity to affect educational achievement through evidence-based instruction.  Additionally, this is a private/public partnership. Philanthropy, the school district and the education foundation are matching with an additional $3,183,723 over four years toward this initiative.  For these reasons, this project is an appropriate and good use of taxpayer funding. 

Link to certification of no economic interest. 

Recipient:  Pasco Alliance for Healthy Communities/Alliance for Substance Abuse Prevention

Address of Recipient:   7809 Massachusetts Ave, New Port Richey, FL 34653

Amount of Request:  $800,000

Project Description and Statement of Public Benefit: 

The opioid overdose and addiction crisis has hit an all-time high nationally, costing our nation over 600 billion annually; and in our community Pasco Sheriff’s Office data shows the number of drug related overdoses locally reached 1,526 overdoses in 2021, which is a record high.  Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Pasco County has also experienced a concerning spike in overdose rates that are higher than the national average. In 2020, during the COVID-19 mandated “Stay At Home Order”, Pasco County saw the highest overdose rates in its history. Furthermore, according to the Florida Department of Health’s data, drug poisonings were already the third leading cause of unintentional injury hospitalizations among youth ages 15-19 in Pasco County (FDOH, 2019.) Suicide attempts with medications also hit an all-time high among youth ages 10 -14 increasing 63% from 27 attempts in 2015 to 44 attempts in 2018. (Florida Poison Control, 2019.)  With the ever-increasing circle of family, friends and loved ones impacted by the overdose crisis, this project could foreseeably reach up to 100,000 constituents in our area each year.  The Alliance for Healthy Communities (AHC) is perfectly poised to continue to convene Pasco County; bringing all stakeholders in addiction prevention, treatment and recovery together to work collaboratively on the opioid overdose and addiction epidemic for community level change. With the funding, the Alliance for Communities, Incorporated (AHC) will collaborate with The Hope Shot, a 501c3 non-profit organization, to open an inclusive community center for addiction prevention and recovery. This center will be a “one-stop-shop” for Pasco County residents on addiction prevention, treatment, and recovery resources.  The center will house resources for those seeking help for addiction, their children, family members, youth, and anyone impacted by the opioid epidemic. Supports will include (but are not limited to): recovery and mental health Peer Support Specialists; Navigation Specialists; prevention education, individual support, and classes; peer support meetings; overdose prevention education; medication safety and Narcan. The center will also engage additional community partners, identified by AHC’s Pasco ASAP coalition, to bring rotating services such as medical assistance, housing, job skills and more to the recovery community in Pasco County Florida.  For these reasons, this project is an appropriate and good use of taxpayer funding. 

Link to certification of no economic interest   

Recipient:  Youth and Family Alternatives

Address of Recipient:   7524 Plathe Rd, New Port Richey, FL 34653

Amount of Request:  $2.5 million

Project Description and Statement of Public Benefit:  This project will assist Pasco County in providing the highest quality services to children and families in need in the most effective manner. Most importantly is the ability to collaborate and centralize services so that they can be provided seamlessly and as early as possible, increasing the success of families served. The Center will provide comprehensive care by providing needed services under one roof, but it will also reduce lease expenses for all the agencies, thus being able to reinvest the savings directly into services for the children and families served. The targeted population includes families with open investigations with the Pasco County Sheriff's Office Child Protection Investigation Division, families served by the Lead Agency subcontracted Diversion provider as a result of an investigation in order to divert them from entering the child welfare system, and families in the child welfare system who have an open case and are receiving Case Management services. For these reasons, this project is an appropriate and good use of taxpayer funding. This social services partnership model (co-location) will deliver a single point of access to a variety of services for children and families. Studies have shown that integrating protective services with foster and adoption services have positive short-term and long-term outcomes in the following areas: increased communication between agencies, staff experience a greater understanding of each other’s programs, improved system coordination, more timely access to services for families, enhanced family engagement, enhanced family systems approach, and clients are more likely to be referred to community-based services. Creating continuity of care and improved communication will eliminate challenges among various not for profit agencies that are currently experienced in serving children and families involved in the child welfare system. The Center will provide the opportunity to create robust partnerships between state agencies and public, private, and community organizations.  It will also improve the resources available through reduced lease cost savings to multiple organizations to be provided to caregivers and those in care.  For these reasons, this project is an appropriate and good use of taxpayer funding.

Link to certification of no economic interest.  

Recipient:  City of Tarpon Springs

Address of Recipient: 324 E. Pine Street, Tarpon Springs, FL  34688

Amount of Request:  $4,000,000

Project Description and Statement of Public Benefit:  Craig Park/Spring Bayou Seawall and Sidewalk Repair and Resiliency Upgrade Project.  Funds would be used to replace deteriorating historic seawalls and waterfront sidewalk, raising them to address sea level rise. Tarpon Springs is the lowest city land area in Pinellas County and is the greatest at risk to flooding. The sidewalks and City dock on Spring Bayou are frequently underwater. This has also caused structural problems. Access to the scenic Spring Bayou area is often barricaded to pedestrian access. Replacement of the aging, historic seawall and sidewalk along Spring Bayou at Craig Park is necessary. The new seawall and sidewalk would be installed at a higher elevation to address sea level rise.  Craig Park, adjacent to Spring Bayou, is over 130 years old and has 1,910 feet of seawall and waterfront sidewalk facilities as well as a public boat launch, kayak/canoe dock, shuffleboard, tennis, children’s playground, a bandshell, a war memorial, the City’s Heritage Museum, and a City Recreation Center. The Park functions as a central park for the City, attracting numerous annual events, festivals, weddings, gatherings, the Greek Epiphany Celebration, and seasonal manatee viewing in Spring Bayou. The existing seawall and waterfront sidewalk on Spring Bayou is suffering severe deficiencies having been constructed at a low elevation when originally installed in the 1880s. Twenty years ago, the sidewalks surrounding Craig Park and Spring Bayou were submerged three to four times per year from "sunny day flooding,” but recently the sidewalks are submerged three to four times per month, making the sidewalks more frequently inaccessible than ever.  The increase in the frequency of the flooding has accelerated deterioration of the structural steel within the concrete sidewalks; and because of this continuous deterioration and subsequent structural failure, the sidewalks are often barricaded until emergency spot repairs can be made. An independent engineering analysis recommends that the wall and sidewalk should be replaced with a new wall and sidewalk with an elevation of at least two (2) feet higher than the existing sidewalk and seawall to provide resiliency and to mitigate the catastrophic effects of sea level rise. For these reasons, this project is an appropriate and good use of taxpayer funding.

Link to certification of no economic interest. 

Recipient:  PACE Center for Girls, Pasco and Hernando Counties

Address of Recipient: 7545 Little Rd, New Port Richey, FL 34654

Amount of Request:  $500,000

Project Description and Statement of Public Benefit:  The pandemic exacerbated academic and mental health needs of at-risk girls at Pace Pasco and Hernando, as well as retaining teachers to address their needs.  As of March 2022, both Centers reported a drop in girls’ academic achievement and a 30% teacher vacancy rate.  This project will ensure more than 300 at-risk middle and high school aged girls in Pasco and Hernando counties graduate from high school and enter higher education, certification training, and employment to achieve long-term socio-economic independence. As good stewards of taxpayer funds, Pace Pasco and Hernando annually provide free quality educational and support services to more than 300 girls who are at-risk of dropping out of school, long-term economic dependence, substance abuse, human trafficking, and entering the juvenile justice system.  Pace is a lower cost to taxpayers and more effective alternative to these risk factors by addressing the underlying needs of marginalized girls and ensuring long-term economic independence through gender responsive educational and wrap around support services.  The pandemic required new ways of delivering academic and social services, professional development for teachers to implement new tools and services, developing an alternative certification program to recruit new teachers and updated technology and curriculum to ensure girls are successful after Pace.  When underserved and marginalized girls graduate from high school, enter post-secondary education, and find permanent employment, they are more likely to become productive taxpaying citizens and their children more likely to become economically independent. For these reasons, this project is an appropriate and good use of taxpayer funding.

Link to certification of no economic interest.

Recipient:  Moffitt Cancer Center

Address of Recipient: 12902 USF Magnolia Drive, Tampa, FL 33612

Amount of Request:  $3,000,000

Project Description and Statement of Public Benefit:  This project will be used to fund the Moffitt Cancer Research and Life Science Facility at Pasco. Federal funds will help to supplement state, local and private sector dollars that will be used to construct a 300,000 square-foot state-of-the-art building for cancer research.  Funding for an important health care initiative that will benefit the State of Florida and our nation. Working with Pasco County and the State of Florida, Moffitt is in the process of developing 775 acres of land in Pasco County into a “Life Sciences Innovation District” that will be a regional hub for health care, research, education, and biotech business development.   The construction of the Moffitt Cancer Research and Life Science Facility at Pasco is scheduled to begin in 2023. Along with a new outpatient cancer treatment facility, the research building will anchor the first phase in the development of the Life Sciences Innovation District.  From there Moffitt will look to partner with global leaders in healthcare, science, and biotechnology to build out the campus with ventures in joint science and discovery; manufacturing and business incubator/accelerators; as well as other initiatives across many sectors.  The new Life Sciences Innovation District will also include academic, training, recruitment and employment initiatives with a focus on developing the next generation of nurses, scientists, physicians, technicians. Such efforts are essential to the life sciences industries and will become resources to attract companies and provide an environment that attracts top talent.  The new campus will be a place for thought leaders from around the globe to come together to innovate.With new clinical facilities for cancer care and research, the project addresses an urgent demand for access to precision oncology care in Florida. More than 155,000 Florida residents are newly diagnosed with cancer each year. Our state ranks #2 in the U.S. for cancer incidence and mortality. The project will also have a transformative effect on the residential and economic vitality of Florida’s 12th Congressional District. In a recent economic analysis, Moffitt estimates that the overall project will create as many as 14,500 new jobs in Pasco County over the next 10 years. More information is available at https://moffitt.org/endeavor/Pasco/index.html.

For these reasons, this project is an appropriate and good use of taxpayer funding.

Link to certification of no economic interest.  

Recipient:  Pasco County Sheriff's Office

Address of Recipient: 8700 Citizens Drive, New Port Richey, FL  34654

Amount of Request:  $2,000,000

Project Description and Statement of Public Benefit:  The Center for the Recovery of Endangered and Missing Persons (CREMP) was approved by the Florida Legislature during the 2022 legislative session. This innovative, cutting-edge center will serve the Pasco County community, as well as regional partners, by providing assistance with the location of endangered and missing persons. CREMP will take a wholesale approach to locating missing persons, including through technological means such as social media research and other tactics and techniques and will be the first center in the Tampa Bay Area focused on locating and recovering endangered and missing persons. In addition, CREMP will serve as an incubator for the development of technological and tactical methods to aid in the recovery of endangered missing persons, staying on the cutting edge. This request will provide for technological upgrades to the Center for Missing and Endangered Persons and will benefit the public by enhancing law enforcement efforts to recover missing and endangered persons. This is a good use of taxpayer funds as recovering missing and endangered persons is a top priority.

Link to certification of no economic interest.  

Recipient:  Lighthouse for the Blind of Pasco, Hernando and Citrus Counties

Address of Recipient: 9130 Ridge Rd, New Port Richey, FL 34654

Amount of Request:  $600,000

Project Description and Statement of Public Benefit:  The World Health Organization provides studies that have shown that vision impairment reduces quality of life due to isolation, anxiety, fear, and depression; poor mental health is a cause of worsening vision impairment; and that seniors who are visually impaired experience a greater number of falls, hip fractures, and a higher rate of mortality compared to their sighted peers. The program is tailored to older adults with disabilities who live in Pasco, Hernando and Citrus, FL Counties to provide a holistic, person-centric approach to care. The program is designed empower clients in these 3 counties to live more independently in their home and communities with a focus on improved mental health. This is done through independent living classes, orientation and mobility training and assistive technology trainings with curriculum focused around clients' physical, cognitive, leisure, social, psychological and emotional well-being. For these reasons, this project is an appropriate and good use of taxpayer funding.

Link to certification of no economic interest.  

Recipient:  Pasco County

Address of Recipient: 8731 Citizens Drive, New Port Richey, FL 34654

Amount of Request:  $3 million

Project Description and Statement of Public Benefit:  The Moon Lake ADA-compliant bus stop projects is a  collaboration with Project Management, GoPasco, and Community Development to enhance identified critical non-ADA bus stop locations to better service the citizens of Pasco County.  The proposed project will install approximately 4 miles of accessible sidewalks to service along eighteen (18) bus stops within the GoPasco Bus Route 16 within the Low to Moderate Income (LMI) area of Moon Lake area located within Pasco County.  This portion of GoPasco Route 16 runs through the heart of the Moon Lake area along Bethwood Avenue, Catalona Avenue, Lake Drive, and Banbury Avenue and services the majority of the 4,234 citizens living in the area.  The project would include installing sidewalks along the previously mentioned roadways, including mid-block crossings walks on Lake Drive. These sidewalks will serve as ADA accessible route access to GoPasco bus stops, create safe routes for children exiting school buses along the route, as well as offer access to financially disadvantaged citizens for shopping and work opportunities. Pasco County seeks to continue the effort to protect our citizens and deter any future fatalities within the region by expanding safe and accessible opportunities for our citizens. For these reasons, this project is an appropriate and good use of taxpayer funding.

Link to certification of no economic interest. 

Recipient:  Personal Enrichment through Mental Health Services

Address of Recipient: 1254 58th St, Pinellas Park, FL 33782

Amount of Request:  $2 million

Project Description and Statement of Public Benefit: Personal Enrichment through Mental Health Services (PEMHS) is seeking support to fund a new 20-bed Children’s Crisis Stabilization Unit and Community Diversion Center. PEMHS has been providing acute inpatient psychiatric services for children in Pinellas County, 24 hours, 7 days a week since 1981, and is dedicated to serving its most vulnerable citizens. This is a critical endeavor that will have a lasting positive impact on the residents as well as the providers’ who are working collaboratively to protect our children. This project will expand the County’s service capacity ensuring timely, appropriate and quality care. Unfortunately, the current 15-bed facility does not meet the needs of the community in relation to the number of beds or allow for separation of children from adolescents, which is necessary, as treatment and interventions are very different for each population.  The proximity of the existing Children’s Crisis Stabilization Unit to the adult unit does not provide for the most effective therapeutic environment.  Funding of this facility will allow PEMHS to provide a more therapeutic environment and facilitate enhanced trauma-informed care for children and adolescents in need of acute inpatient psychiatric services. It will allow agencies to collaborate in alleviating the identified needs and barriers of individuals, children and their families by providing coordinated access to continued mental health care, as well as substance use treatment, physical health screening, housing and other services when necessary. Diversion services will ensure that children and adolescents receive care in the least restrictive manner possible. The goal is to provide safety, continuity of care, education for families, and to ensure that community-based services are available for continued treatment. For these reasons, this project is an appropriate and good use of taxpayer funding.

Link to certification of no economic interest.

Recipient:  City of Dunedin

Address of Recipient: 542 Main St, Dunedin, FL 34698

Amount of Request:  $2 million

Project Description and Statement of Public Benefit:  According to St. Petersburg/Clearwater report tourism in Pinellas County has had a significant increase.  For Dunedin, this increased demand accounts for approximately 300,000 additional cars on its already at-capacity roads. This project will provide funds to build an additional parking garage in downtown Dunedin.  For these reasons, this project is an appropriate and good use of taxpayer funding.

Link to certification of no economic interest.  

Recipient:  Suncoast YMCA

Address of Recipient: 8411 Photonics Dr, New Port Richey, FL 34655

Amount of Request:  $750,000

Project Description and Statement of Public Benefit:  James P. Gills Family YMCA Healthy Living Program Area Improvements.  This project will fund significant renovations and improvements to various healthy living areas at the Y. These improved spaces will allow us to provide quality outdoor programs and services in West Pasco County and create new spaces for families to engage in healthy activities together.  The renovations and improvements will improve and expand healthy living opportunities for over 17,000 people - youth, adults, seniors, and families. We currently have wait lists for youth sports programs, before and after school care programs, and senior sports programs; as a result of these improvements, we will reduce those on waitlists and begin to serve more residents in our community. As the leading provider of active recreational programs in Pasco County, particularly those serving lower-income families, as a result of these improvements, we will increase the number of people we serve in our community, provide expanded services to low-income adjacent neighborhoods, and continue to provide quality healthy living programs and services for youth, adults, and families in West Pasco County. For these reasons, this project is an appropriate and good use of taxpayer funding.

Link to certification of no economic interest.   

Recipient:  Pinellas County Government

Address of Recipient: 315 Court St # 501, Clearwater, FL 33756

Amount of Request:  $2 million

Project Description and Statement of Public Benefit:  Anclote Road is a 2.4-mile collector road serving underdeveloped industrial and commercial areas, a work release center and residential areas in unincorporated Pinellas County and the City of Tarpon Springs. The area has been identified as a Target Employment Center for economic development which will allow increased density for uses such as manufacturing, office and research and development.  Objectives for improving this corridor include providing multimodal access to industrial, workforce and residential areas; improving roadway safety, and improving stormwater management thorough stormwater infrastructure upgrades and incorporation of green stormwater infrastructure where practicable. The project is in close proximity to the Pinellas/ Pasco County Line and will service communities from the two counties. This project will be an excellent use of taxpayer funds because it will improve the region in the following major areas:

1. Drainage Improvements:

• Correct frequent severe localized flooding with new storm sewer and outfalls to Anclote River
• Address tide related flooding affects on existing wetlands and surrounding communities
• Add detention/retention ponds for additional runoff storage in conjunction with possible expanded wetlands
• Minimize/eliminate roadway intersection ponding and overtopping
• Upgrade existing outfall culverts for increased volume conveyance

2. Roadway Improvements:

• All of Anclote Road needs to be completely replaced and will be widened and reconstructed
• Widen narrow bridge crossing to add shoulders and bike lanes for safety
• Study Roundabout intersection improvement at Anclote Rd. and Anclote Blvd. to correct unsafe angle of intersection
• Improve Alt 19 intersection for safety
• Street lighting at intersections for increased safety
• Traffic control devices to help reduce speeds

3. Community Connectivity:

• Construct new sidewalks throughout for pedestrian connectivity
• Construct multi-use path in conjunction with possible bike lanes for bicyclists
• Proposed Multi-Use paths to add connectivity to existing Elfers Spur Trail and Costal Anclote Trail
• Ensure all pedestrian facilities are ADA compliant

4. Economic Development:

• Improvements will allow for local commercial, industrial and residential development adding tax base and jobs
• Resulting increased quality of living in the community

5. Environmental Enhancements:

• Increase water quality with the application of numerous BMP’s, such as bio-swales, vegetative conveyance swales, vegetative filter strips, LID treatments, off-line stormwater systems, and in-line stormwater system.
• Expansion of existing wetlands
• Potential for Partial cleanup of areas related to Stauffer Chemical Superfund Site

For these reasons, this project is an appropriate and good use of taxpayer funding.  

Link to certification of no economic interest.

Recipient:  Vincent House of Pasco County (VAAC)

Address of Recipient: 111454 Denton Avenue Hudson, FL  34667

Amount of Request:  $1.25 million

Project Description and Statement of Public Benefit:  The project will be used to build ten units of new housing for Vincent House participants.  Each unit at approximately 450 square feet will use to house people with mental illness below 20% or below the average median income.    These units will be for those who are homeless or at risk of being homeless.  Most of Vincent House participants, called members, receive SSI or SSDI benefits.  The maximum monthly SSI benefit in Florida is $841 in 2022.  A 560 SF, one bedroom apartment in Hudson rents for $1070 per month.  Even a 288 SF studio apartment is $729 monthly.  They are completely priced out of the market leaving many members housing insecure.    Other possible options include:

• Section 8 housing vouchers, but they are extremely difficult to find unless a person is homeless and even then, it takes a long time.  Regular Section 8 housing has proven to be nearly impossible with members on the wait list for years without success. 
• Assisted Living facilities take a member’s government check leaving the member a stipend of $54.00 and often there are 2-3 people sharing one small room. 

• Blighted housing can be extremely scary and dangerous to someone with paranoia and especially for female members.
• Homelessness is a dire circumstance for someone with a serious mental illness.  They are often vulnerable and preyed upon by others who see their weakness. 

VAAC plans to build 38 tiny homes in a phased in approach for members on six acres behind Vincent House Pasco along with an eight-bedroom group home that could provide a transition for some members to independent housing.  These houses will provide a safe decent place to live close to their support system.  These homes will provide community for members and keep them from being homeless.  With homelessness a problem in Pasco County, these homes will support the community while assisting the people living in them.

For these reasons, this project is an appropriate and good use of taxpayer funding.

Link to certification of no economic interest.

FY 2022 Community Project Funding Requests

In 2021, Members of Congress were permitted to submit Community Project funding requests which met the needs of the communities they serve to the House Appropriations Committee. In the interest of full and complete transparency, Members were required to post information about the projects they submit on their official websites. Congressman Bilirakis received dozens of high-quality proposals from local governments, municipalities, and non-profits. While many of these proposals addressed significant need within the community, the Congressman could only select 10 projects.  The selected projects are listed below.  As of March of 2022, all ten of these projects were approved and fully funded in the FY 22 Appropriations Package. 

Proposed Recipient: City of Dade City 

Address of Recipient: 38020 Meridian Ave, Dade City, FL 33525 

Amount of Request: $1.75 million

Project Description and Statement of Public Benefit: This project involves the design and permitting of the city’s wastewater treatment plant relocation and upgrade. The existing wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) is located within the Historic Mickens-Harper neighborhood. The neighborhood is a historic Black community originally created in 1948 during segregation. In the 1950s, the City constructed a WWTP in the Mickens-Harper neighborhood. Understanding this is an issue of environmental justice, the City Commission made a commitment in 2012 to relocate the WWTP when its capacity needs to be expanded. Over the years, there has been tremendous community involvement and support for the relocation of the WWTP. On February 28, 2012, the City Commission adopted Ordinance 2012-01 stating the Commission’s commitment. At the February 9, 2021 City Commission meeting, the Commission reaffirmed their desire to right a wrong and relocate the WWTP. Along with environmental justice, this project will provide significant environmental benefits. The WWTP is adjacent to the Green Swamp, where the Withlacoochee River meets the Hillsborough River Watersheds and will provide significant environmental benefit. The WWTP will reduce nutrients in surface water that contribute to algae blooms and degradation of the ecosystem of the watersheds. Excess nutrients are a major contributor to water quality issues in Florida. The project will provide economic benefits and create 150 direct and indirect jobs through construction. Expanded capacity will allow for planned economic growth in the City allowing for additional indirect job growth. The economic impact, environmental benefits, and social justice equity of the proposed project uniquely qualify it as an appropriate and good use of taxpayer funding. 

Link to certification of no economic interest.   

 

Proposed Recipient:  City of Zephyrhills

Address of Recipient:  5335 8th Street Zephyrhills, FL 33542

Amount of Request: $1.5 million 

Project Description and Statement of Public Benefit: The City of Zephyrhills is requesting matching funds to assist with wastewater system improvement that will allow the city to balance wastewater flow, provide water quality protection and support water supply needs in the Hillsborough River Basin. The existing wastewater infrastructure is at capacity and cannot accommodate additional flow from the northside of the town to the city’s advanced wastewater treatment (AWT) facilities on the southside of the town. The proposed improvements include a force main and associated lift stations that will allow the city to take approximately 300 residents off of either septic systems or aging package plant facilities and sent this wastewater flow and send this wastewater flow to the city’s AWT plant. The environmental improvements and public safety enhancements that will accompany this project uniquely qualify it is an appropriate and good use of taxpayer funding.

Link to certification of no economic interest.   

 

Proposed Recipient: City of Oldsmar

Address of Recipient: 100 State St W, Oldsmar, FL 34677

Amount of Request: $1.6 million

Project Description and Statement of Public Benefit: The State Street Drainage Ditch project will enclose the ditch with a box cover to mitigate the unsafe conditions resulting from the undermining of driveways, streets, and sidewalks on a public street. Geo-netting has failed to improve ditch bank erosion in an essential downtown thoroughfare in an emerging redevelopment area. Systemic water flow is impeded by the ditch failing to discharge water properly during storm events. The ditch passes beneath residential driveways and there are several utility services spanning the ditch and attendant rights of way. At locations along the ditch, the water flows too swiftly, dislodging vegetation and eroding the banks. Driveway culverts are inconsistent in size and constrict flow resulting in erosion around and underneath structures. A concrete culvert, as opposed to the existing earthen ditch will eliminate erosion issues, improve motorist/bicyclist/pedestrian safety, prevent bottlenecking and variations in flow velocities. More effective water flow management and reduced maintenance are tertiary benefits of this project. The environmental and public safety benefits of this project uniquely qualify it as an appropriate and good use of taxpayer funding.

Link to certification of no economic interest.   

 

Proposed Recipient: Pasco County Board of County Commissioners

Address of Recipient: 37918 Meridian Avenue, Dade City, FL 33525

Amount of Request: $1 million

Project Description and Statement of Public Benefit: Rural Northeast Pasco Community Park Site Acquisition- Pasco County’s Parks Master Plan targets the following levels of service: 1 community park per 20,000 people, 1 district park per 50,000 people, and 1 wilderness park per 100,000 people. Elsewhere in the county, impact fees pay for buying and developing parks. In rural northeast Pasco County, lands are not being developed and not generating impact fees. Although the area calls for a community park, the county does not have an income source to buy park property there. As such, the county fall short of meeting its Level of Service goals. The County also does not own any land in the rural, northeast county where the Parks, Recreation, and Natural Resources Department could add a community park. The proposed federal funding would allow Pasco County to plan, identify, and buy the new community park site, including appraisals, boundary surveys, closing costs, insurance, etc. Due to the geographic inequity that exists, this project is uniquely qualified as an appropriate and good use of taxpayer funding.

      Link to certification of no economic interest 

Proposed Recipient: Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners 

Address of Recipient: 315 Court St # 501, Clearwater, FL 33756

Amount of Request: $1.75 million

Project Description and Statement of Public Benefit: This project involves the purchase of a countywide Pinellas County consolidated Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) System which will allow a singular platform for all emergency response agencies for everything from call taking, closes unite deployment countywide, records management, evidence management, situation awareness and planning. If funded, the project will significantly improve public safety and increase interagency efficiency throughout the county. The public safety and intergovernmental agency efficiencies that will be achieved through this project uniquely qualify it as an appropriate and good use of taxpayer funding.

Link to certification of no economic interest. 

  

Proposed Recipient: Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners 

Address of Recipient: 315 Court St # 501, Clearwater, FL 33756 

Amount of Request $240,000

Project Description and Statement of Public Benefit: The Pinellas County Tidal Check Valves project involves purchasing and installing 15-25 tidal check valves to prevent saltwater intrusion into stormwater drains.  Sea level rise is currently impacting the performance of coastal stormwater outfalls and is expected to worsen over time. During high tides, saltwater backs up into the stormwater system and results in street flooding, even when there is no rain. Almost 2,000 stormwater outfalls across Pinellas County discharge at or below sea level and that number is anticipated to reach 2300 within 20 years. The check valves will improve public safety and extend the life of stormwater and roadway systems. The improved public safety, environmental and economic impact achieved through this project uniquely qualify it as an appropriate and good use of taxpayer funding.  

Link to certification of no economic interest.   

 

Proposed Recipient: Community Health Centers of Pinellas, Inc.

Address of Recipient: 707 Druid Rd, Clearwater, FL 33756 

Amount of Request: $2 million

Project Description and Statement of Public Benefit: The Mental Health Collaborative Project between Premier  Community Health Center and Community Health Centers of Pinellas County (both of which are federally-qualified community health centers) will help to address unmet mental health needs in Pasco and Pinellas counties. The demand for mental health services has spiked throughout the pandemic. Both Pasco and Pinellas have seen a dramatic rise in suicide rates over the past decade. The pandemic has exacerbated the crisis.  This project would enable these two Federally Qualified Community Health Centers to increase the number of insured, uninsured and underinsured patients in Pasco and Pinellas counties who are able to access quality mental health treatment. The improved public health benefit which will be achieved through this project uniquely qualify it as an appropriate and good use of taxpayer funding.

Link to certification of no economic interest.   

 

Proposed Recipient: AmSkills

Address of Recipient: 4606 Darlington Rd., Holiday, Florida, 34690

Amount of Request $950,000

Project Description and Statement of Public Benefit: The project would fund the renovation of the AmSkills Workforce Training Innovation Center that will become an attraction and serve a low income area of Pasco County, as an Economic Redevelopment training facility for local residents of the Holiday, New Port Richey, Port Richey and surrounding communities, as well as create the beginning of a regional workforce training district. AmSkills Mission is to Transform Lives and Strengthen Communities through Workforce Training and Apprenticeships, focusing on Manufacturing and the Construction industry. AmSkills is an Industry led program, working with more than 30 manufacturing and other employers to provide direct, hand-on training, required by industry, and is an FDOE registered Apprenticeship and Pre-apprenticeship program. The facility will be designed to conduct a variety of programs to attract youth, adults, Veterans, unemployed, and underemployed individuals, from throughout the Tampa Bay region and support the much needed Workforce entry pipeline of skilled workers to help Manufacturing and related industry trades and help residents in these areas enter into and remain in career employment. The economic impact this project will have on the region uniquely qualifies it as an appropriate and good use of taxpayer funding.

Link to certification of no economic interest.   

 

Proposed Recipient: U.S. Institute Against Human Trafficking

Address of Recipient: 11 DuPont Circle NW, Suite 500, Washington, D.C. 20036

Amount of Request: $750,000 

Project Description and Statement of Public Benefit: Human Trafficking is a significant problem throughout the Tampa Bay area. This project will enable the U.S. Institute Against Human Trafficking to expand prevention, intervention, and long-term support services for victims of human trafficking throughout Tampa Bay. The societal benefit and the individual empowerment of individual human trafficking survivors uniquely qualifies this project as an appropriate and good use of taxpayer funding. 

Link to certification of no economic interest. 

 

Proposed Recipient: The Pasco-Pinellas Public Defender’s Office

Address of Recipient: 7530 Little Rd, New Port Richey, FL 34654 

Amount of Request: $200,000

Project Description and Statement of Public Benefit: The project is titled INTERCEPT UNIT of the Public Defender’s Office. It would be funded by through the Department of Justice’s Byrne Justice Assistance Grants (JAG) Program. The project is titled “INTERCEPT UNIT” based upon the Sequential Intercept Model (SIM) developed in the early 2000’s. As stated by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, “the SIM helps communities identify resources and gaps in services at each intercept and develop local strategic action plans. The SIM mapping process brings together leaders and different agencies and systems to work together to identify strategies to divert people with mental and substance use disorders away from the justice system into treatment.” The INTERCEPT UNIT will take on the task of delivering food, personal hygiene items and other necessities to our homeless population, Veterans, and our local children faced with food insecurity. We also provide transportation for those transitioning to inpatient treatment programs and others who do not have the ability to facilitate necessary transportation to behavioral health appointments. To support the project, the UNIT is in need of an employee dedicated to identifying the needs and delivering goods to this population. The Public Defender’s Office is often the primary navigator of behavioral health, medical services, and assistance with supporting independence for those transiting from incarceration and overcoming homelessness in Pinellas and Pasco counties. Providing basic individual needs and fostering self-reliance has proven to reduce recidivism and create a safer community. We work with multiple agencies to accomplish these goals but due to the reduction in community behavioral health funding and services, we are asking for your assistance in supporting some of our current initiatives that have demonstrated success in our community. The economic impact of reduced recidivism throughout the community uniquely qualifies this project as an appropriate and good use of taxpayer funds.

Link to certification of no economic interest.   

 

For more information about the Community Project Funding program, please view this Appropriations Committee document.

 

Surface Transportation Infrastructure Projects

In addition to the Community Project Funding Requests, each Member of Congress is permitted to submit funding proposals for Surface Transportation Infrastructure Projects (STIP). The list of STIP projects submitted by Congressman Bilirakis for 2021 is provided below.

• Ridge Road Extension Phase IIB- The physical address of the project is Ridge Road, Land O’ Lakes, FL 34638 in Pasco County.  The project will extend the existing Ridge Road from Sunlake Blvd. in Land O’Lakes to U.S. Hwy 41 (also commonly referred to as Land O’ Lakes Blvd.). This new road construction will help provide much needed Eastbound emergency evacuation routes for Northern Pinellas and West Pasco residents.  Additionally, it will help to alleviate significant traffic congestion. Congressman Bilirakis has deemed this project to be a high priority and has requested $15 million dollars to help fund the project. If funded by the Appropriations’ Committee, the Pasco County Board of County Commissioners would be the recipient of the funding.

         Link to certification of no economic interest

• The Dunedin Causeway Bridge is in need of reconstruction. The location of the project is: Dunedin Causeway Boulevard, from Royal Stewart Arms Parkway on Honeymoon Island to the intersection of Gary Place/Gary Circle on Ward Island in Dunedin, FL 34698. Pinellas County, in conjunction with the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), has conducted a Project Development and Environment PD&E Study on the Dunedin Causeway Bridges. The study extends along Dunedin Causeway Boulevard from Royal Stewart Arms Parkway on Honeymoon Island to the intersection of Gary Place/Gary Circle on Ward Island; the length of the project is about two miles. The existing Main (bascule) Bridge connects Ward Island to Dunedin Causeway. The existing Tide Relief Bridge is a fixed bridge which connects Dunedin Causeway to Honeymoon Island State Park. The Dunedin Causeway Bridges project consists of the replacement of the Main Bridge with a new, two-lane mid-level movable bridge and replacement of the Tide Relief Bridge with a new, two-lane low-level fixed bridge. There are no improvements planned for the Dunedin Causeway beaches or recreation areas. Minor roadway improvements will be needed to transition the existing roadway to the roadway on the replacement bridges. The existing Dunedin Causeway bridges provides the only access that connects the City of Dunedin to Honeymoon Island State Park. Both bridges were constructed in 1963 and are considered "functionally obsolete" because of their narrow width. According to a 2015 FDOT Bridge Inspection Report, the main bascule bridge contains fractured critical components and is considered scour critical. It has a sufficiency rating of 48.6 out of 100. There are no shoulders on the bridges and sidewalks on the north side are only three (3) and one-half feet wide. The multi-use path on the south side of the bridge is only six (6) feet wide. Both the main and tide relief bridges do not meet current engineering standards for resisting damage from high waves during significant storms and vessel impact. Ongoing maintenance and repair of the main (bascule) bridge machinery also affects reliability and results in traffic delays. Major rehabilitation or replacement of both bridges is needed to keep the bridges open and the main (bascule) bridge operating efficiently. Located on the Gulf Coast of Florida, Pinellas County is home to nearly one million residents, with an additional 15.5 million visitors each year, including seasonal residents and tourists. The County values the significance the City of Dunedin and Honeymoon Island State Park brings to the community, both economically and as a favorite destination for citizens and visitors to enjoy natural Florida. Honeymoon Island State Park is enriched with serene beaches, bountiful wildlife and natural vegetation and is also the ferry terminal for access to another unspoiled state park, Caladesi Island. Honeymoon Island has a direct annual economic impact of $150 million to the county. The Dunedin Causeway located along the existing bridges is a popular area for citizens and visitors to enjoy recreational activities such as walking, jogging, and biking on the designated trail and swimming, kayaking, paddle boarding, and fishing in the Intracoastal Waterway. The new bridge design will better accommodate these outdoor activities residents and visitors partake in when visiting the Causeway, with wider and safer bicycle lanes, sidewalk, and trail. The Dunedin Causeway Bridges project directly aligns with Pinellas County's Strategic Plan goal to Foster Continual Economic Growth and Vitality by investing in infrastructure to meet current and future needs, and in doing so, providing safe and efficient transportation systems to support the efficient flow of motorists, commerce and regional connectivity. The Congressman has deemed this project to be a significant community priority and he has requested $5 million in federal funding this year. If funded, the recipient would be the Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners.

           Link to certification of no economic interest