Appropriations Requests
Community Project Funding Fiscal Year 2023
Below is a list of projects that Congressman Albio Sires requested for Community Project Funding.
Project Name: Pier 93 Park Phase 2
Intended Recipient: Town of West New York
Amount: $2,750,000
Description: This funding would support the second stage of the Pier 93 Project, which is part of the town’s goal to create additional outdoor space in a densely populated, urban area. Access to additional outdoor space will greatly improve the quality of life for residents of West New York, NJ. Specifically, this additional funding will go towards addressing engineering issues with the pier, which has been left to fall into disrepair.
Financial Disclosure Certification
Project Name: Pedestrian Safety Improvement Project
Intended Recipient: Township of Weehawken
Amount: $5,000,000
Description: The project would improve pedestrian and vehicle safety with updates to outdated traffic lights and unsafe sidewalks on a stretch of roadway from Park Avenue and 51st Street to Hackensack Plank Road and 19th Street. These sidewalks and traffic lights do not meet current State & Federal Americans with disabilities guidelines and signalized roadway crossing standards and put pedestrians at increased risk of danger and injury.
Financial Disclosure Certification
Project Name: Lead Service Line Replacement
Intended Recipient: City of Elizabeth
Amount: $1,736,000
Description: The funds would go to replacing 217 identified lead service lines to ensure the health and safety of Elizabeth’s residents. Lead service lines pose a risk to the well-being of the community and can adversely impact the effectiveness of water service delivery. Additionally, this scalable project supports Elizabeth’s efforts to replace all lead services lines well before the deadline set for New Jersey municipalities of July 22, 2031.
Financial Disclosure Certification
Project Name: Tonnelle Avenue Drainage Improvements 75th and 76th Street Project
Intended Recipient: Township of North Bergen
Amount: $6,048,000
Description: This project would resolve a long standing issue for the Township and its residents by preventing future storm damage. As the second hilliest community in the nation, North Bergen’s lack of green space results in storm water that travels quickly and precariously, unable to permeate the asphalt roads, and flooding residential properties. The area of focus in this project is at particular risk. This project will provide relief to residents of this Tonnelle Avenue block who have long experienced economical and emotional hardships as a result of storm damage.
Financial Disclosure Certification
Project Name: James Braddock Park
Intended Recipient: Hudson County
Amount: $500,000
Description: These funds would be used to install additional roundabouts as traffic calming methods in the county park, enhancing pedestrian and vehicular safety. Additionally, the project will enhance the county park in the diverse and underserved community of North Bergen.
Financial Disclosure Certification
Project Name: Central Avenue Safety Improvements
Intended Recipient: City of Union City
Amount: $1,200,000
Description: The project would encourage residents and visitors to choose alternative forms of transportation by transforming Central Avenue into a pedestrian-friendly corridor through ADA compliant improvements, lighting, and shade trees. These improvements will facilitate greater access to regional public transit networks either by bus or light rail, improving the first/last mile experience for commuters. Union City’s local economy will stand to benefit from the placemaking features proposed, as increased pedestrian foot traffic will lead to patronage of the many small local businesses located along Central Avenue. Enhanced pedestrian visibility, the promotion of active forms of transportation, calmed vehicle traffic, and improved air quality will all elevate the quality of life for the residents and visitors of Union City.
Financial Disclosure Certification
Project Name: Sinatra Drive Redesign
Intended Recipient: City of Hoboken
Amount: $1,800,000
Description: These funds would support the implementation of the Hoboken Green Circuit, as outlined in Hoboken Master Plan that the City “prepare and implement a plan for realizing the ‘Green Circuit,’ so that residents could one day enjoy a continuous recreation and non-motorized travel loop around the City.” The Green Circuit is envisioned as a multi-use path that encircles the City, connecting a series of existing and new paths and parks on City property and private land. The project on Sinatra Drive has been designated as a Special Focus Overlay due to its status as one of Hoboken’s signature streets and significance to overall bicycle network connectivity. The Plan calls for installing a “protected multi-modal facility along the entire corridor” to give bicycle riders of “a diversity of skill” a safe place to enjoy the Hudson River Waterfront and a safe route to transit. Connecting the bikeway network through this project will also encourage use of the public transportation system by providing bicycle access to multi-modal transit options at 2nd Street, 9th Street, 14th Street, and Hoboken Terminal.
Financial Disclosure Certification
Project Name: Upgraded High Performance Computer Cluster and Satellite Receiving Station
Intended Recipient: Stevens Institute of Technology
Amount: $960,000
Description: This funding would allow Stevens to increase its capacity to conduct research in artificial intelligence (AI), climate, energy, financial technology and analytics, big data analytics, robotics, and other applications leading to potential new discoveries for key industry sectors throughout the state including the life sciences, information technology, clean energy, advanced manufacturing, and finance. This state-of-the-art technology will also prepare students, by providing hands-on learning experiences, for employment in these high-wage, high-growth industry sectors. In addition to the wide array of research opportunities enabled by the enhanced computing capabilities of the requested HPCC, there are several applications that will have an immediate impact on flood mitigation and prediction, coastal and energy resiliency, and wastewater processing, all of which will benefit the wider community and are supported by numerous towns, organizations, and agencies.
Financial Disclosure Certification
Project Name: River Road Overpass
Intended Recipient: Town of West New York
Amount: $2,000,000
Description: This funding would go towards the design and schematics phase to create a multimodal (walking/bicycle/over road) project that ensures connectivity to transit and will further ensure that there is a safe and secure connection for pedestrians to cross along a heavily transited thoroughfare.
Financial Disclosure Certification
Project Name: Technological Advance Expansion Project
Intended Recipient: Hudson County Community College
Amount: $3,360,000
Description: This funding would go towards expanding HCCC’s pilot program utilizing state-of-the-art Immersive Telepresence Video (ITV) synchronous learning classroom technology system to connect remote students to in-class learning from home or across classrooms, and campuses and improve the educational experience by reducing student travel and keeping students on their home campuses. The twenty-four ITV rooms will allow HCCC to leverage the technology and further increase the number of certificates and degrees offered fully at all of its campuses by connecting campuses and eliminating the obstacle of commuting an increased distance to attend a course only offered at one campus.
Financial Disclosure Certification
Project Name: Housing Authority Building Security Improvements
Intended Recipient: West New York NJ Housing Authority
Amount: $888,000
Description: These funds would go towards improving the safety and well-being of more than 1000 residents across eight buildings, including seniors and those utilizing over 300 Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers. By enhancing access safety and installing security cameras, this project will make the buildings operated by the West New York Housing Authority a safe haven for residents so they can focus on other aspects of their lives.
Financial Disclosure Certification
Project Name: Jersey City Apprenticeship Program
Intended Recipient: City of Jersey City
Amount: $750,000
Description: This funding would support a specialized apprenticeship program to connect residents to union jobs within Jersey City. This program is a valuable use of taxpayer funds because it will provide economic opportunities and workforce development for eligible dislocated workers, disabled populations, and veterans while strengthening the local economy and supporting the skill needs of the community.
Financial Disclosure Certification
Project Name: Township of Weehawken’s Public Safety Department’s Radio System Update
Intended Recipient: Township of Weehawken
Amount: $1,000,000
Description: These funds would update the Township’s outdated radio system that is currently operating on an obsolete analog system over 16 years old. The improvements will allow radio communication between Police Officers, Emergency Medical Technicians, public safety officials, and the communications center so the Public Safety Department can better serve the residents of, and those who commute through, Weehawken.
Financial Disclosure Certification
Project Name: West New York Electric Vehicles and Charging Stations
Intended Recipient: Town of West New York
Amount: $475,000
Description: The project would be a valuable use of taxpayer funds because it will expand the Town’s efforts to reduce the municipality’s dependence on carbon emitting energy sources, mitigate the Town’s contribution to pollution in the community, and address the long-term impacts of climate change.
Financial Disclosure Certification
Project Name: Union City’s Digital Trunked Radio System Replacement
Intended Recipient: Union City Police Department
Amount: $1,200,000
Description: The project seeks to update a radio system that is currently operating unsupported because it can only work on outdated operating systems. Updating this system will greatly reduce the risk of outages, which are becoming more common on the current system, and improve the safety of the residents of Union City. The operational capacity of Police Department and other city-wide departments will be significantly improved, as they work to protect and serve those 68,000 residents residing in less than 1.5 square miles.
Financial Disclosure Certification
Community Project Funding Fiscal Year 2023
If you are interested in submitting Community Project Funding appropriations requests for Fiscal Year (FY) 2023, please fill out the appropriate form below before April 21, 2022. After completing a form please send a confirmation email that includes a letter of support from the local government and/or your organization to NJ8inquiries@mail.house.gov. Please direct any questions to that email as well.
Funding Request Forms
Financial Services and General Government
Labor, Health, and Human Services
Military Construction, Veterans Affairs
Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development
Community Project Funding Fiscal Year 2022
Below are a list of projects that Congressman Albio Sires requested for Community Project Funding. Please direct any questions to NJ8inquiries@mail.house.gov.
Project Name: Ironbound Community Health Center Renovations and Equipment Purchases
Intended Recipient: Ironbound Community Health Center located at 788 Mount Prospect Avenue, 2nd Floor, Newark NJ 07104.
Amount: $550,000
Explanation: Funding would be used to expand much-needed services at Ironbound Community Health Center including Team-Based Care, the Women's Health Center, and Urgent Care. It would also provide for upgrades and renovations so that the Center can implement services effectively and efficiently.
Project Name: Stevens Institute of Technology ACES 2.0 Program
Intended Recipient: Stevens Institute of Technology located at 1 Castle Point Terrace, Hoboken, NJ 07030.
Amount: $750,000
Explanation: Funding would be used to expand Stevens' partnerships with schools in underserved communities to provide students with an opportunity to pursue a STEM educationa dn five them the supports they need as undergraduates to succeed in college and transition into a successful career. Specifically, funding would go to tuition-free scholarships to the Stevens' Pre-College STEM Summer Program, technology support for participating students, support for paid summer internships, and expanding current programming for ACES undergraduates.
Project Name: North Hudson Campus Technology Advance
Intended Recipient: Hudson County Community College located at 4800 John F Kennedy Boulevard, Union City, NJ 07087.
Amount: $980,000
Explanation: Funding would be used to scale up Hudson County Community College's ITV program which in turn will benefit the community by providing remote learning options to those who wish to pursue degrees and certifications but would otherwise not have had access to such opportunities.
Project Name: CCTV for a Safer Union City
Intended Recipient: Union City Police Department located at 3715 Palisade Avenue, Union City, NJ 07087.
Amount $1,100,000
Explanation: Funding would be used to provide a new closed-circuit television (CCTV) system in New York Street Park and 33rd Street Water Park as well as upgrades to the existing system. These additions and upgrades will help ensure the safety of all those who live in, and visit, Union City, NJ.
Project Name: West New York Pier 93 Project
Intended Recipient: Town of West New York, New Jersey located at 428 60th Street, West New York, NJ 07093.
Amount: $2,250,000
Explanation: Funding would be used for the initial stages of rebuilding and converting a former commercial pier into a safe, multi-use green space for the residents of densely populated West New York to enjoy.
Project Name: North Bergen Municipal Traffic Calming Project
Intended Recipient: Township of North Bergen, New Jersey located at 4233 Kennedy Boulevard, North Bergen, NJ 07047.
Amount: $488,000
Explanation: Funding would be used to install speed tables around a number of schools in the Township. The project would be a valuable to the public because it will reduce motor vehicle speed and breaking distance, leading to improved safety and walkability. In an urban area such as North Bergen, improved walkability can lead to positive health, economic, and environmental benefits, all of which will improve the quality of life for those who live and work in the community.
Project Name: Hoboken Electric Vehicle Fast Charging Station Project
Intended Recipient: City of Hoboken, New Jersey located at 94 Washington Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030.
Amount: $250,000
Explanation: Funding would be used to purchase electric vehicle charging stations to be installed for public use. This project would support the City’s efforts to encourage electric vehicle ownership to reduce carbon emissions and mitigate the long-term impacts of climate change.
Project Name: Silver Lake Station Pedestrian Safety Improvement Project
Intended Recipient: Township of Belleville, New Jersey located at 152 Washington Avenue, Belleville, NJ 07109.
Amount: $250,000
Explanation: Funding would be used to enhance accessibility to the Silver Lake Light Rail Station and promote safety and walkability to and from transit for a higher concentration of pedestrians.
Project Name: Russell Golding Park Project
Intended Recipient: City of Bayonne, New Jersey located at 630 Avenue C, Bayonne, NJ 07002.
Amount: $1,000,000
Explanation: Funding would be used to restore the Russell Golding Park to its vital community role as a modern, safe and healthy outdoor recreation and public social gathering venue, particularly for the low-income Bayonne Public Housing residents of the State-designated Opportunity Zone in which the park is located.
Project Name: Broad Street – East/West Grand Street Traffic Light Replacement Project
Intended Recipient: City of Elizabeth, New Jersey located at 50 Winfield Scott Plaza, Elizabeth, NJ 07201.
Amount: $532,240.00 for the as a community project funding request.
Explanation: Funding would be used to replace an antiquated traffic light system in order to improve traffic flow, increase mobility and improve pedestrian and vehicular safety.