Rep. Ocasio-Cortez unveils $15 million grant for Bronx, Queens community projects

Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has unveiled over $15 million grant for community projects that will serve New York’s 14th Congressional District.

According to her, the federal funding will make possible a new pre-K program for Corona, street safety improvements to Astoria Boulevard and Westchester Square, a major expansion of the Plaza Del Sol Health Center, and more.

Ocasio-Cortez listed the projects in a statement on Tuesday.

She stated, “The funding secured for these 15 community projects will directly impact our communities in The Bronx and Queens — through investments in pre-K programming, community violence interventions, workforce training in green jobs, and more.”

“I also want to thank our community partners who worked with our office during the nomination process. Our staff worked tirelessly to create a fair process that would best serve historically underserved communities in our district. We’re looking forward to following the success of these community projects as they come to life.”

Rep. Ocasio Cortez’s Community Project Funding Grants include New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) which will receive the sum of $3,000,000.

The grant will provide wage subsidies to non-profits in the renewable energy sector to incentivize hiring and prioritize a just transition.

Another project is the NYC Health and Hospitals Jacobi Stand Up to Violence. The sum of $845,026 will be granted to the execute this project to expand social and mental health services to victims of violent crime.

Also part of the project is the Elmcor Youth and Adult Activities that will receive the sum of $663,250 towards their supportive housing development for individuals in recovery and senior citizens.

The Plaza Del Sol (PDS) – Family Health Center Expansion Project- is one of the projects. The sum of $3,000,000 is earmarked to expand Family Health Center to serve an additional 7000 patients and hire 6.5 additional health care providers.

“It is the epicenter of the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, and home to a largely underinsured and undocumented immigrant community, residents of Corona experience poorer health outcomes than most parts of the city,” Ocasio-Cortez said.

She added that the New York Hall of Science – Pre-K Program— will receive the sum of $750,000 to develop a pre-K program for preschoolers and identify new pedagogical practices that promote STEM learning from a young age.

“New York City Department of Transportation will receive the sum of $1,000,000 to make Astoria Boulevard safer and more accessible for pedestrians by expanding sidewalk space, shortening crossing distances, adding crossings, and adding bus stop improvements, including bus bulbs,” she stated.

She added that “The New York Botanical Gardens will receive the sum of $1,000,000 which will facilitate the restoration of the Workers Operation Center, serving the daily work needs of the Garden’s core workforce.”

She maintained further that the Neighborhood Housing Services of Queens (NHSQ) will receive the sum of $2,400,000 towards acquiring a permanent home for their organization.

Ocasio-Cortez mentioned other community projects.

She thanked Queens and Bronx community members for advocating for the projects.

“We are thrilled these projects will now become reality — and we confident that all these projects fulfill our nation’s collective goals, advance our collective pursuit of justice, and are deeply worthy of federal support,” Ocasio-Cortez said.