For transparency, Members are required to post Community Project Funding requests and associated certifications of no financial interest on their house.gov websites at the time the request is made to the Committee. The information posted must include:
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The proposed recipient
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The address of the recipient
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The amount of the request
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An explanation of the request, including purpose, and a justification for why it is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds, and
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The Member’s signed certification letter stating there is no financial interest in the project.
Projects Requested
Listed below are the projects Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson has submitted on behalf of her community to the House Committee on Appropriations.
(The projects are listed in alphabetical order by project name)
Project Name: Bahamian Museum of Arts and Culture
Proposed Recipient: Thelma Gibson Health Initiative, Inc.
Address of Recipient: 3646 Grand Avenue, Miami, FL 33133
Amount Requested: $4,000,000
Project Explanation, Purpose, and Justification: The funding request will help expand the capabilities of the Bahamian Museum of Arts and Culture. The funding also includes support for reconstruction and economic development activities to expand the footprint of the project in the heart of Coconut Grove, Florida. The goal is to create equitable development and community-centered arts & culture, both being necessary to strengthen the impact of tax dollars. This brings an economic 'equity lens’ to the community development field, hinging on the engagement of low-income communities like West Coconut Grove in reshaping the neighborhood into a stabilizing pipeline of economic growth. By attracting tourism, jobs, and focusing on the Bahamian legacy and preserving this history, the process is the catalyst to securing cultural assets, building greater social cohesion, and feeding economic vibrancy.
Signed Disclosure Letter: Click Here
Project Name: Boys & Girls Club of Miami Dade
Proposed Recipient: Boys & Girls Club of Miami Dade, Inc.
Address of Recipient: PO Box 330219, Miami, FL 33233
Amount Requested: $4,000,000
Project Explanation, Purpose, and Justification: This project will provide the Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami Dade, Inc. funding for three neighborhood Boys & Girls Clubs within District 24 - Miami Gardens Club, Gwen Cherry Club, and Northwest Club to provide afterschool programs for the youth residing in the cities of Miami Gardens and Miami and surrounding neighborhoods of Liberty City, Brownsville, and the Charles Drew Elementary School area. Funds will be used to enhance and build facilities and fund programs for the youth of District 24. The Program hours will be 2 PM to 7 PM on school days and 8 AM to 6 PM on Teacher Workdays and Summer. The programs will serve more than 15 schools. The Boys & Girls Club programs serve at-risk children with sports, games, team projects, art, homework help, counseling, and other enrichment activities. The clubs take a holistic approach to the nurturing of children and offer programming in five key areas: Character and leadership development Education and career development Health and life skills The arts Sports, fitness, and recreation Facilities enhancement of the Northwest Club: Our plan, already developed, is to completely renovate the 11-acre campus located at 10915 NW 14th Ave | Miami, FL 33167 including Demolition of the existing 1950s building, a new twenty-five thousand sq. ft state-of-the-art facility, state-of-the-art learning center, STEM & computer Lab, Teen Center & recreational areas, and complete refurbishment of existing fields & gym. This request includes efforts to expand the programmatic offerings of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Miami Dade County at the following locations - Gwen Cherry in Liberty City, Northwest Club, and Miami Gardens Club.
Signed Disclosure Letter: Click Here
Project Name: Connect to Protect – Septic to Sewer Conversions in Vulnerable Areas - El Portal & Miami Shores
Proposed Recipient: Miami-Dade County Water and Sewer Department
Address of Recipient: 3071 SW 38th Ave Miami, FL 33146
Amount Requested: $5,000,000
Project Explanation, Purpose, and Justification: This project is to expand the sanitary sewer system to areas vulnerable to rising groundwater and served by septic systems. Of the 100,000+ properties served by septic systems in the County’s Water and Sewer service area, approx. 9,200 are vulnerable to compromise or failure from rising groundwater. This project will provide critical infrastructure in partnership with two municipalities that are within or adjacent to the Little River Adaptation Area, a low-lying community vulnerable to rising groundwater and flooding impacts from sea level rise. This funding would provide for a wastewater pump station in the Village of El Portal and Miami Shores Village to serve as a critical backbone for the future expansion of the system. Gravity line will also be designed and constructed to capture a maximum number of parcels, which is estimated at 100. Expansion will be prioritized for the areas adjacent to the C-7 Little River Canal and Biscayne Bay to maximize risk reduction from nutrient pollution.
Signed Disclosure Letter: Click Here
Project Name: Cultural Facility Development at McTyre Park
Proposed Recipient: City of West Park
Address of Recipient: 1965 S State Road 7, West Park, FL 33023
Amount Requested: $5,750,000
Project Explanation, Purpose, and Justification: This activity involves the development of a cultural facility at the City Park. The development will include a cultural community center with gymnasium. The cultural center will accommodate cultural events and programming, while the athletic facilities (gymnasium) will be able to host large scale activities, and day-to-day competitions and recreation events. The facility will be entirely ADA accessible to address Special Needs programming.
Signed Disclosure Letter: Click Here
Project Name: Enhancements to the Museum of Contemporary Art, Inc. in North Miami
Proposed Recipient: Museum of Contemporary Art, Inc.
Address of Recipient: 770 NE 125th St North Miami, FL 33161
Amount Requested: $4,000,000
Project Explanation, Purpose, and Justification: The Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) connects diverse audiences and cultures by providing a welcoming place to encounter new ideas and voices, and nurturing a lifelong love of the arts. The museum is located in North Miami, one of the most demographically and economically diverse regions of the country. With a new five-year strategic plan, approved by the Board of Trustees in September 2021, MOCA will strengthen its impact on the region's identity, education, economy, and quality of life. One of the museum's strategic goals is to triple MOCA's attendance over the next five years, but in order to deliver an innovative lineup of high quality programming to its growing audience, the museum needs enhancements to its 26-year-old Gwathmey Siegel Architects designed building. Funding would allow MOCA to increase the amount of programmable space to best serve the residents of North Miami and beyond through the museum's exhibitions, education, and public programs.
Signed Disclosure Letter: Click Here
Project Name: I am Me: An Arts-Based Youth Mental Health Initiative
Proposed Recipient: Adrienne Arsht Center Trust, Inc.
Address of Recipient: 1300 Biscayne Blvd, Miami, FL 33132
Amount Requested: $500,000
Project Explanation, Purpose, and Justification: The Adrienne Arsht Center seeks funding for I am Me, a production serving 25,000 9th graders in Miami-Dade County Public Schools. Conceived in response to the rising mental health crisis in young teens, I am Me is a theatrical work that addresses issues prescient to today's youth, including depression, anxiety, isolation, gender identity, immigration, and economic insecurity. The production will travel to all 50 high schools. Additional engagement opportunities will include: - Teacher professional development workshops focused on providing resources for teachers who are so often first responders for student mental health concerns. - A study guide that will better equip students to deal with their own mental health issues through arts and mindfulness-based activities and resources. - Teaching artists trained in National Council on Behavioral Health Mental Health First Aid will visit select schools to engage students in wellness clubs with activities such as art therapy and journaling.
Signed Disclosure Letter: Click Here
Project Name: Lifting as We Climb Community Impact Hub
Proposed Recipient: Circle of Brotherhood Inc.
Address of Recipient: 5120 NW 24th Ave Miami, FL 33142
Amount Requested: $2,000,000
Project Explanation, Purpose, and Justification: The Circle of Brotherhood is proposing a city-wide safety net hub with local non-profits called the Lifting as We Climb Community Impact Hub. The hub will be focused on family programming in Miami to address food insecurity, clothing support, housing assistance, public safety, and teen preventative health in Miami. The hub will bring together existing safety net providers in Miami to facilitate coordinated programming aimed at both preventive and a result of hardship to shift life outcomes for everyday Miamians mainly elderly and young people. The Circle of Brotherhood will focus its efforts on its Peacemakers neighborhood program to identify and train community members to serve as peace service workers. Peace service workers function as a non-armed community safety and response team and provide community peace-keeping services while working with the local police department. To support the efforts of peace service workers, the hub will partner with Antioch Baptist Church. This partnership will expand its existing facility and operations to better support and accommodate the elderly and youth with clothing and nutritious meals. This funding will expand the number of non-members of Antioch Baptist church who will have access to food and clothing at no cost. The Lifting as We Climb Community Impact Hub will partner with the Liberty City Protecting Youth Committee at the Hosanna Community Foundation. This partnership will provide strategic, high-quality youth and family prevention programming to cultivate an environment for continuous personal growth and safety. The aim is a reduction in gun violence. LCPYC, in coordination with the Urban Partnership of Miami-Dade County Coalition (UPMDCC), serves the Liberty City, Brownsville, and Overton jurisdictions. Finally, the Lifting as We Climb Community Impact Hub will partner with various local Teen Health providers to promote the health of teenagers.
Signed Disclosure Letter: Click Here
Project Name: Miami Veterans Housing Project
Proposed Recipient: United Way Miami
Address of Recipient: 3250 SW 3rd Ave Miami, FL 33129
Amount Requested: $4,000,000
Project Explanation, Purpose, and Justification: This project will fund the Miami Veterans Housing Project needs assessment and allow the pursue housing options including, but not limited to, acquisition of land and new construction, site acquisition(s) and rehabilitation. Funds will serve veterans in the ALICE population that do not qualify for traditional affordable housing programs in Miami-Dade County, regardless of their age or branch of service, with access to safe housing, and access to resources available through the Mission United program and their partners.
Signed Disclosure Letter: Click Here
Project Name: Pediatric Health Center Phase Two
Proposed Recipient: Jessie Trice Community Health System, Inc.
Address of Recipient: 2520 NW 75th St Miami, FL 33147
Amount Requested: $6,548,002
Project Explanation, Purpose, and Justification: In 2015 The Florida Department of Health in Miami Dade County FDOH held the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony of the Pediatric Health Center a joint partnership between the Florida Department of Health and JTCHS. Services include primary care, screenings, education and nutrition services WIC. Pursuant to Resolution No. R 624 11 the Board of County Commissioners approved an agreement with the FDOH to construct a new health facility upon three parcels of land located at Poinciana Industrial Center. The FDOH constructed the Pediatric Health Center on Tract C but did not construct additional facilities on Tracts A and B. Resolution No. R 886 20 passed and adopted in August, 2020 directed the County Mayor to finalize an agreement to allow for the development and expansion of medical facilities on Tracts A and/or B. JTCHS is requesting funding to build phase 2 of the Health Center, which will house a pediatric practice and oral health dental clinic. For the health center development project, JTCHS is requesting 6548002. This includes 5715451 in construction and an additional 832551 for the necessary medical equipment, dental equipment, furniture and IT equipment.
Signed Disclosure Letter: Click Here
Project Name: Phase 2 Simonhoff Floral Park Improvements/COVID-19 Memorial and Douglas Park Community Center Improvements
Proposed Recipient: City of Miami Parks and Recreation Department
Address of Recipient: 444 SW 2nd Ave, 8th Floor, Miami, FL 33130
Amount Requested: $4,000,000
Project Explanation, Purpose, and Justification: The project will fund enhancements to Simonhoff Floral Park - $3 million of federal funding is sought for phase two of capital improvements including rehabilitation, construction, and improvements to Simonhoff Floral Park which is located in Liberty City, an African American community, such as adding safety and ADA features, lighting, sidewalks, paved areas, COVID-19 memorial structure, expanded and ADA compliant playground, and drought tolerant and canopy landscaping. Simonhoff Floral Park's total need - $4 million. The project will also fund improvements to Douglas Park Community Center - The remaining $1 million of federal funding is sought for park improvements to include the construction of a new community center with indoor space and covered exterior breezeways. The design phase of this project has been completed, and there is a current funding shortfall of over $3.8 million to be addressed in order to move forward with construction. This park location is an active community park that offers sports programming and amenities, and various outdoor amenities such as walking trails, bicycle paths, outdoor fitness equipment and shelters. Douglast Park Community Center total need - $3.9 million. Total need - $7.9 million.
Signed Disclosure Letter: Click Here
Project Name: Remediation of 127th Street Canal - Opa Locka
Proposed Recipient: Miami-Dade County Department of Regulatory & Economic Resources
Address of Recipient: 111 NW 1st Street, 11th Floor Miami, FL 33128
Amount Requested: $5,000,000
Project Explanation, Purpose, and Justification: The 127 St. Canal, south of NW 127 St., Opa Locka, runs E/SE into Little River Canal, which flows into Biscayne Bay. It conveys stormwater, maintains the groundwater (GW) table, and prevents saltwater intrusion in Biscayne Aquifer. Former Minton’s Dump, abutting the Canal, operated from 1960s - 1980s accepting trash, debris, and auto byproducts, used as on-site lakefill. As a result, the Canal turns an orange/brown (O/B) color at the Dump, dissipating > 5,000 ft downstream. Surface water (SW) samples from the Canal document elevated iron, chlorophyll, and phosphorus, contributing to downgradient impacts and exceeding State criteria, approved by EPA under the Clean Water Act. GW assessment in 2021 at facilities next to the Canal revealed elevated levels of metals, PAHs, TDS, ammonia and PFAS, impacting the shallow aquifer; iron the likely contributor to the O/B color. This project will address the SW violations by stopping the SW-GW interaction that contaminates the 127 St. Canal, improving water quality by eliminating impacts and abating the visual nuisance of the O/B color of the Canal. This year’s appropriation will be used for more assessment/remediation.
Signed Disclosure Letter: Click Here
Project Name: Repetitive Property Losses - Drainage Improvement Project
Proposed Recipient: City of Miami Gardens
Address of Recipient: 18605 NW 27th Avenue Miami Gardens, FL 33056
Amount Requested: $4,000,000
Project Explanation, Purpose, and Justification: This project was planned to address community flooding complaints from repetitive losses under FEMA throughout the city.
Signed Disclosure Letter: Click Here
Project Name: Robotics and Autonomous Systems Laboratory for Coastal Conservation and Restoration
Proposed Recipient: Florida International University
Address of Recipient: 11200 SW 8th St Miami, FL 33199
Amount Requested: $11,000,000
Project Explanation, Purpose, and Justification: The goal of this program is to provide the tools of tomorrow that address critical science questions related to our coastal environment. This initiative is focused on collaboration between various regional research and agency management partners who are advancing and deploying Robotics, Sensor Networks, and Algorithmic Development that are essential to the future of Environmental monitoring and restoration by building a state-of-the-art laboratory in FL-24. Inter-governmentally, it will create the regional clearinghouse for Environmental data, to be shared across federal, state and local governments and research partners. Finally, this will serve to develop research opportunities for the next generation of scientists- from K-12 to graduate students- that address critical science questions that cut across multiple disciplines focused on a synoptic coastal ecosystem science program. Next-generation jobs will require an interdisciplinary, technologically driven approach to problem solving.
Signed Disclosure Letter: Click Here
Project Name: Washington Park Site Development
Proposed Recipient: City of North Miami Beach
Address of Recipient: 17011 NE 19 Avenue, North Miami Beach, FL 33162
Amount Requested: $3,000,000
Project Explanation, Purpose, and Justification: The Washington Park renovation project consists of removing the existing dilapidated park and community center and replacing it with a multi-purpose complex. The new complex features a 12,900-SF state-of-the-art LEED Certified community center with a library and computer labs, a new zero-entry pool with saltwater purification, splash pad, playgrounds, sports courts, recreation fitness equipment, passive seating areas, and synthetic recreation fields. The site features native and Florida-friendly landscaping, art installation, LED lighting, a covered bus shelter, wayfinding signage, and parking.
Signed Disclosure Letter: Click Here
Project Name: Wilkie D. Ferguson Jr. U.S. Courthouse Repairs
Proposed Recipient: U.S. General Services Administration
Address of Recipient: 77 Forsyth St, Atlanta, GA 30303
Amount Requested: $3,000,000
Project Explanation, Purpose, and Justification: The project would be a valuable use of taxpayer funds because the courthouse is currently in need of repairs to its water feature, which has had previous operational issues. Leaks of the water feature were first reported in December 2010 and the feature was subsequently taken out of service for repairs. In September 2011, the GSA issued a report that found various deficiencies with the feature and estimated repairs. The water feature was not properly installed by the general contractor. In June 2017, after a long process that included negotiating a settlement with the contractor, the water feature was repaired and operational. However, in November 2017, the feature began having issues again which led to it being shut down. In September 2018, the tile wall collapsed. Since 2018, the courthouse has been awaiting a repair timeline.
Signed Disclosure Letter: Click Here
Congresswoman
Frederica S. Wilson
Proudly Representing FL-24