PHILADELPHIA – Congressman Dwight Evans (D-PA-3rd) has requested a total of more than $23.7 million in federal Community Project Funding for 15 Philadelphia projects. The biggest category is housing, with $9,400,149 of Evans’ requests designated for seven housing initiatives in the city.
“Philadelphia’s great need for affordable housing continues to be a top priority for me. In December, I secured $5,925,000 in federal funding for four Philadelphia projects to increase or preserve affordable housing. Even with the change in control of the House of Representatives, I hope that we can eventually reach a bipartisan agreement on appropriations legislation like the one in December that included 14 of my federal funding requests for Philadelphia,” Evans said.
“We always have to pass a spending agreement at some point to keep government services available for the people – and avoid a government shutdown! And the previous two rounds of Community Project Funding have benefited both Democratic and Republican districts across the country, so I’m optimistic that we can continue that success.”
In addition to Evans’ seven housing-funding requests, he requested funding for other community needs in Philadelphia: worker training, small business growth, health, the local environment, and pedestrian safety.
After providing an open application period for local organizations and agencies, Evans made the 15 requests to the House Appropriations Committee. The process is similar to that for his previous two years’ requests that delivered a total of nearly $23 million in federal funding for projects in Pennsylvania’s 3rd Congressional District.
“While the new, narrow House Republican majority limited project eligibility this year, my staff and I worked hard to comply with the new rules and choose suitable projects that would benefit several neighborhoods across the district,” Evans said.
Evans’ 15 requests for fiscal year 2024 are:
1. $2,000,000 for Compassion Senior Living; intended recipient is Community of Compassion, Inc., Philadelphia, 19143. The project would address social inequities and local disparities in a direct and measurable way. It would help mitigate climate change with the inclusion of a green roof and energy-efficient heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems.
2. $2,000,000 for Beech Senior Apartments; intended recipient is Beech Interplex, Inc. Philadelphia, 19131. The project would significantly increase the housing opportunities for low-income residents in a real estate environment where aging in place is increasingly difficult.
3. $1,900,000 for Opportunities Apartments; intended recipient is Opportunity Services Corp., Philadelphia, 19144. The project would meet a critical need for affordable housing among extremely low-income and low-income seniors.
4. $1,180,000 for Bringing the Future of Work to Disconnected Workers; intended recipient is Philadelphia OIC, Philadelphia, 19122. The project would provide state-of-the-art training that would give the residents in the area a distinct competitive advantage in the labor market, easing their connection to work that pays family-sustaining wages and career ladder job opportunities.
5. $1,000,000 for LA ERIC (Lancaster Ave.-Entrepreneurship Resource and Innovation Center); intended recipient is Lancaster Avenue 21st Century Business Association, Philadelphia, 19104. The project would create a small business development hub in West Philadelphia that would help startups as well as established businesses grow and ensure early-stage companies become successful.
6. $500,000 for Vaux Community Building Auditorium Renovation; intended recipient is the Philadelphia Housing Authority, Philadelphia, 19121. The project would provide additional space for the use of the building’s tenant organizations and the broader community, providing space for resident-owned businesses and community organizations.
7. $2,000,000 for Abigail Pankey Apartments; intended recipient is Women’s Community Revitalization Project, Philadelphia, 19122. By providing truly affordable housing, Abigail Pankey Apartments provides an equitable housing solution to a changing neighborhood.
8. $3,000,000 for Beacon of Hope Affordable Housing Workforce Development, Transit Assisted Design by VETMOTO, Philadelphia, 19125. The funding would be used for broadening their existing services to include building 30 new affordable housing units to support severely underserved women and elderly veterans. The project would help to minimize the Philadelphia Veterans Administration housing wait list which currently stands at over 200. This project would address a portion of the homeless population in Pennsylvania’s 3rd Congressional District.
9. $3,500,149 for Lower North Affordable Project; intended recipient is Habitat for Humanity Philadelphia, Inc., Philadelphia, 19121. The project would create critically needed affordable homeownership options for Philadelphians who otherwise would be unable to purchase their homes.
10. $900,000 for The Apartments at 40th Street Place; intended recipient is Mt. Vernon Manor, Inc., Philadelphia, 19104. The Apartments at 40th Street Place would ensure residents are able to withstand housing market pressures with tenant stabilization as a top priority.
11. $923,000 for Mt. Airy/Germantown Streetscape Improvement and Reconnection; intended recipient is Mt. Airy Business Improvement District, Philadelphia, 19119. The funding would be used to improve pedestrian safety along the commercial corridor by adding crossings at seven key intersections.
12. $900,000 for ELEVATE – Strawberry Mansion Neighborhood Schoolyard Redevelopment; intended recipient is The Big Sand Box Inc., Philadelphia, 19107. The project would help people’s health by improving environmental conditions. Social determinants of health (SDOH) are non-medical factors that influence health outcomes.
13. $300,000 for Philly Schools Tree Canopy; intended recipient is the School District of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, 19130. Philadelphia urban forest removes an estimated 513 tons of air pollution per year, a $19 million annual value. Neighborhoods with fewer trees have higher rates of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Reducing pollution and increasing the tree canopy improves air quality and respiratory health.
14. $1,600,000 for Lamberton Schoolyard Improvement Project; intended recipient is the School District of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, 19151. The project would provide low- to moderate-income families a space to play and experience science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) learning.
15. $2,000,000 for 52nd Street Streetscape Improvement; intended recipient is City of Philadelphia, Department of Commerce, Philadelphia, 19102. The project would enhance traffic safety measures, increase community amenities, beautify the area and prioritize public transit safety and access. It would increase the safety, visibility and ease of access in one of Philadelphia’s historic commercial corridors.
Evans represents the 3rd Congressional District, which includes Northwest and West Philadelphia and parts of North, South, Southwest and Center City Philadelphia.
During Evans’ first six years in Congress, his office has helped to return to or save more than $25 million for Philadelphians from federal agencies such as the IRS, Social Security Administration and Department of Veterans Affairs. His website is evans.house.gov and his social media handle is @RepDwightEvans on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
