The House Committee on Appropriations announced in 2021 that they would bring back member directed Community Project Funding for the first time in over a decade. Community Project Funding is a vital way that Members of Congress can advocate for projects in their communities. Using the guidance provided by the Appropriations Committee, my staff and I solicited dozens of worthy projects to choose from.
Like so many things in this job, I couldn’t do this alone!
That’s why I assembled a non-partisan panel of 9 community leaders from across the district that were as diverse as we are here in Pennsylvania's 6th Congressional District.
Below you will find the projects that we selected for FY2023 with the help of that board of community leaders based on the value they will bring to the community.
For more on FY2022 projects, click here.
Community Project Funding Requests on Behalf of Pennsylvania's 6th Congressional District
The following projects are listed in alphabetical order by applicant:
Applicant: Alvernia University Reading CollegeTowne Health Science Expansion, 401 Penn Street, Reading PA 19601
Requested Amount: $2,000,000
Purpose: To create a local pipeline for RNs in Berks County. This project will expand the nursing program by 42% and contribute 188 nurses to the local workforce over the first five years of program. These local RN graduates will help relieve the nursing staffing shortage for the hospitals and create a permanent workforce pipeline for Berks County to create a more resilient Heath Care industry that can withstand public health crises and the pre-existing workforce shortage.
Letter certifying there is no personal financial interest in this project.
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Applicant: Berks Latino Workforce Development Corporation-Berks Tec Centro, 450 S. 6th Street, Reading, PA 19602
Requested Amount: $1,907,500
Purpose: Renovate and update the current Tec Centro facility and create a permanent benefit to the community by providing education and training opportunities for culinary arts, dental assistant, commercial plumbing, industrial electricity, HVAC maintenance and refrigeration, welding and metal fabrication for hundreds of low-income residents of Berks County.
Letter certifying there is no personal financial interest in this project.
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Applicant: Borough of West Grove – Oakland Avenue Revitalization, Phase 1, 117 Rosehill Ave, West Grove, PA 19390
Requested Amount: $216,656
Purpose: Revitalize Oakland Avenue in West Grove Borough to address the deteriorating condition of the roadway, the storm water system, and sidewalks to increase pedestrian safety and expand access to small business community.
Letter certifying there is no personal financial interest in this project.
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Applicant: Centro Hispano Daniel Torres Inc - Reading Community Health Hub Project, 25 N 2nd St, Reading, PA 19601
Requested Amount: $635,713
Purpose: Provide resources and health care programs to the growing Latino community in Reading who experience transportation challenges.
Letter certifying there is no personal financial interest in this project.
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Applicant: Chester County District Attorney’s Office – Forensic Technology for Investigations, 201 W. Market St., Suite 4450, West Chester, PA 19380
Requested Amount: $325,000
Purpose: Acquire a Rapid DNA instrument, scientific and technology support services, and supplies to help bolster law enforcement efficiency and improve community outcomes. This technology will enable law enforcement officers the ability to obtain DNA results in 90 minutes, helping to solve crimes and potentially exonerate those who may have been falsely accused of a crime.
Letter certifying there is no personal financial interest in this project.
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Applicant: City of Coatesville Ash Park Master Plan Implementation Phase I, 350 Kersey Street Coatesville 19320
Requested Amount: $1,000,000
Purpose: Provide demolition and site preparation for the stormwater mitigation, establish a main park entrance, create open paved event space, renovate public bathrooms, relocate the playground area and install a new splashpad, erect a pavilion structure with cooling station, add various seating types and new landscaping including trees and meadow grasses that provide stormwater management and reduced maintenance of sloped areas.
Letter certifying there is no personal financial interest in this project.
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Applicant: The Garage Community & Youth Center - After School Youth Development Program, 121 Pennsylvania Ave, Avondale PA 19311
Requested Amount: $100,000
Purpose: Facilitate expanded learning and life skill opportunities for underserved youth in southern Chester County.
Letter certifying there is no personal financial interest in this project.
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Applicant: Kennett Library -New Kennett Library Furniture, Fixtures & Equipment, 320 East State Street, Kennett Square, 19348
Requested Amount: $869,538
Purpose: Provide appropriate furnishings, fixtures, and equipment (FF&E) for the New Kennett Library and Resource Center currently under construction in Kennett Square, as well as new computers and associated equipment.
Letter certifying there is no personal financial interest in this project.
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Applicant: Keystone Valley Fire Dept. Stryker lift EMT, 329 W. First Avenue, Parkesburg, PA 19365
Requested Amount: $ 29,385
Purpose: Assist EMS providers with patient safety and stabilize stretchers while loading on to EMS vehicles.
Letter certifying there is no personal financial interest in this project.
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Applicant: LCH Behavioral/Mental health support, 14 South 3rd Street, Oxford, PA 19363
Requested Amount: $605,000
Purpose: Support a new system for the Oxford community as a partnership with the Borough, Oxford Borough Police Department and LCH Health and Community Services. LCH will provide harm reduction strategies including medically assisted treatment, group and individual psychotherapy, pharmaceutical management, and access to existing programs.
Letter certifying there is no personal financial interest in this project.
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Applicant: LGBT Center of Greater Reading - Violence Reduction Project, 640 Centre Avenue, Reading PA, 19601
Requested Amount: $113,520
Purpose: Enhance and expand programs to increase hours of operation for counseling, care coordination, support groups, transportation, food & toiletry pantry, workforce development, community outreach, and gun violence reduction.
Letter certifying there is no personal financial interest in this project.
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Applicant: Phoenixville Area Community Services (PACS) Infrastructure Upgrades, 101 Buchanan Street, Phoenixville, PA 19460
Requested Amount: $1,056,000
Purpose: Complete necessary infrastructure upgrades to increase access to food distribution hub and expand cold storage capacity.
Letter certifying there is no personal financial interest in this project.
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Applicant: Reading Housing Authority – Oakbrook Homes Center for Community Services, 1001 Scott Street; Reading, PA 19611
Requested Amount: $2,000,000
Purpose: Renovate an underutilized property management building to serve as a Neighborhood Resource Center to serve as a hub for programs to address economic self-sufficiency, food insecurity, and access to mainstream health and humans services that are currently inaccessible to residents of this public housing community.
Letter certifying there is no personal financial interest in this project.
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Applicant: United Way of Chester County - United Way Social Innovation Lab, 150 John Robert Thomas Drive, Exton, PA 19341
Requested Amount: $200,000
Purpose: Create a state-of-the-art collaborative center designed to jumpstart innovative approaches and solutions to community problems and drive economic development.
Letter certifying there is no personal financial interest in this project.
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Applicant: West Chester University - WCU Moonshot I Want to STEM, 700 S. High Street, West Chester, PA 19383
Requested Amount: $715,770
Purpose: Establish a comprehensive outreach, research, and mentorship program that will guide students from elementary school to a degree in STEM.
Letter certifying there is no personal financial interest in this project.
