Jayapal Announces $19.6 Million in Community Project Funding for FY24
WASHINGTON – U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal (WA-07) is today announcing her Community Project Funding (CPF) requests that are funded by the Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) appropriations bills. In total, she secured $19,588,348 for nearly all of the projects requested for the greater Seattle area. The first minibus containing all but one of these projects passed the House of Representatives today by a vote of 339-85. The final project is expected to be included in the Homeland Security Appropriations minibus in the coming weeks.
“Across our community, people are finding creative solutions to tackle the biggest issues that we face, from housing insecurity and food insecurity to climate change and public safety, and so much more,” said Jayapal. “Delivering for the Seattle area is the most important part of my job. At a time when I know that so many are struggling under the weight of inflation — struggling to pay rent or afford groceries — I am so proud to be able to secure more than $19 million in funding to support these incredibly innovative projects that will help to make our district a better place to live for everyone.”
At a time when the income needed to afford an average Seattle home has risen nearly 80 percent since 2020, Jayapal secured $7,566,000 in this legislation for affordable housing and emergency shelters. This funding is expected to build or renovate nearly 300 housing units throughout the district and maintain emergency shelter for 200 individuals. This funding will also direct $1,550,000 toward food banks to address food insecurity throughout the community, expanding food access to over 3,900 households annually.
Jayapal secured the following funding totals for projects across WA-07:
- $1,666,279 for the City of Seattle’s Construction of Henderson Street Affordable Housing Project
- $1,926,000 for the City of Seattle’s Implementation of the Civilian Assisted Response & Engagement Department Pilot Program
- $850,000 for Community Roots Housing’s Capital Repairs of Four Affordable Housing Properties
- $3,200,000 for ecoTHRIVE Housing’s Construction of Affordable Cottage Units
- $750,000 for FamilyWorks’ Wallingford Food Bank Renovation
- $850,000 for Habitat for Humanity Seattle-King and Kittitas Counties’ Construction of 20 Affordable Homes at Burien Miller Creek
- $1,000,000 for Mary’s Place’s Emergency Family Shelter
- $963,000 for Northeastern University Seattle’s Seattle Additive Manufacturing Lab & Community Experiential Learning Space
- $850,000 for Northwest Seaport Alliance’s Zero Emission Drayage Truck Charging Program
- $1,383,069 for Seattle Public Library’s University Branch Seismic Structural Upgrades
- $3,500,000 for the University of Washington’s Advanced Nano and Quantum Systems
- $800,000 for the Vashon Maury Community Food Bank
- $850,000 for the YMCA of Greater Seattle for University Family YMCA Redevelopment
- $1,000,000 for the Construction of a Youth Workforce Development Center by YouthCare
“The needs we are seeing in our streets and throughout our community have fueled our efforts to develop creative and innovative solutions to our most urgent needs. We have made historic investments in expanding affordable housing and created a new paradigm for emergency response through the Civilian Assisted Response and Engagement (CARE) Department to better support our community members experiencing behavioral health crisis and create more bandwidth for our police and fire departments to address other emergencies and situations throughout our city,” said Mayor Bruce Harrell, City of Seattle. “I applaud Representative Pramila Jayapal for her leadership in securing critical federal dollars that will bolster our efforts in creating a more affordable, safe and thriving Seattle for everyone.”
“Community Roots Housing has been building affordable housing and equitable communities for nearly 50 years,” said Christopher Persons, CEO, Community Roots Housing. “Congresswoman Jayapal’s commitment to housing infrastructure, the creation of jobs through housing investment, and most importantly to people who need affordable housing, makes our community a better place to live for all.”
“The ecoTHRIVE Housing team extends our sincere gratitude to Congresswoman Jayapal and the entire US Congress selection committee for their support. Thank you,” said Denise Henrikson, Managing Director and Co-Founder of ecoTHRIVE Housing. “Our vision began by asking people: what do you need to thrive? Hundreds of people shared their stories, telling us they need water, food, and shelter to feed their bodies and art, beauty, and community to feed their souls. This one-time capital subsidy endorses our new approach to creating housing that is owned by people with below-median incomes. And our community-owned village will be climate resilient, permanently affordable, and beautiful!”
“Hunger and the affordability crisis are affecting more and more of our neighbors, particularly families who are raising small children,” said Marcia Wright-Soika, Executive Director, FamilyWorks. “We are so grateful for the ways Congresswoman Jayapal is fighting for families and bringing critical funding back to her communities. With this funding, we will finally renovate FamilyWorks’ Wallingford Food Bank, an essential fabric of our community for more than 20 years. The newly renovated food bank will double the space to serve more families with fresh, nutritious foods, mobile food programs, and one-on-one support services that put them on the pathway to greater stability.”
“We thank Congresswoman Jayapal for supporting the first phase of the Burien Miller Creek project, where we will build 20 permanently affordable homeownership units for families and individuals in Burien and across King County,” said Brett D’Antonio, CEO, Habitat for Humanity Seattle-King & Kittitas Counties. “These homes will be a game changer and bring much needed housing to the community. We thank the Congresswoman for helping us not only to build homes, but to build new homeowners.”
“We are so grateful for this funding that will help provide much-needed support for families and children in South King County and will demonstrate how an innovative shelter-to-housing model with comprehensive services can be a national model for how to address a growing urban crisis,” said Dominique Alex, CEO, Mary’s Place. “Big thank you to Representative Jayapal and her team for their support and help in securing this investment to help house over 150 families.”
“Northeastern University Seattle is grateful to Congresswoman Jayapal for championing this important Community Project Funding request which will provide access to high-tech additive manufacturing equipment and tools, leading to critical workforce training for jobs utilizing these technologies. These Congressionally directed funds will support and enhance regional economic development with high-tech industry applicability throughout Washington’s 7th Congressional District,” said Jack Cline, Vice President of Federal Relations, Northeastern University Seattle. “We’re fortunate that Congresswoman Jayapal recognizes the need for a skilled workforce utilizing additive manufacturing technology. Northeastern University Seattle commends the Congresswoman who has distinguished herself by prioritizing economic development that will serve her constituents throughout the City of Seattle.”
“The Northwest Seaport Alliance appreciates Congresswoman Jayapal for her efforts to secure additional funds to support charging infrastructure for the transition to zero-emission drayage trucks in the Puget Sound,” said Hamdi Mohamed, Port of Seattle Commission President and The Northwest Seaport Alliance Co-Chair. “These funds will help to reduce diesel particulate emissions in near-port communities while supporting the economic vitality of our regional supply chain system.”
“To meet our commitment of zero maritime emissions by 2050 or sooner requires partnership and funding support from our Federal government,” said Kristin Ang, Port of Tacoma Commission President and The Northwest Seaport Alliance Co-Chair. “We are thankful to Congresswoman Jayapal for her leadership and helping secure $850,000 to facilitate charging infrastructure that supports the first major deployment of zero-emission drayage trucks near our port facilities.”
“Through this direct federal investment, the Washington Nanofabrication Facility (WNF) at the University of Washington can acquire state-of-the art equipment, facilitating breakthroughs across various scientific and engineering domains,” said Dr. Maria Huffman, Director, Washington Nanofabrication Facility at the University of Washington. “This funding would empower students, faculty, staff and all researchers to continue to prepare the workforce of tomorrow for the high tech industry and will continue to foster a vibrant and collaborative environment at the WNF.”
“The funding ushered into the federal budget by Rep. Pramila Jayapal is a critical element of our campaign to build a new food bank and community resource hub that will become a safe and inclusive community asset long into the future,” said Emily Scott, Executive Director, Vashon Food Bank. “We are heartened to have the support of leaders like Rep. Jayapal in our work to increase the island’s food security and connect people to supporting resources that help them thrive.”
“Exciting growth is occurring in the University District. As more residents move into our area, the need for affordable and accessible housing becomes increasingly vital,” said Loria Yeadon, President/CEO, YMCA of Greater Seattle. “Additionally, designated community spaces are particularly important for seniors, adults, families, and youth. These spaces provide not only a sense of belonging and connection, but also provide essential services and support networks. A new University Family Y facility will play a crucial role in addressing these needs, offering safe and welcoming environments for seniors, families and young people. We are grateful for leaders like Congresswoman Jayapal, who recognize the urgency of addressing the affordable housing crisis and are actively advocating for resources that will positively impact all members of the North Seattle community. By investing in affordable housing and community infrastructure, we can ensure that the University District remains a vibrant and inclusive place for generations to come.”
“YouthCare is excited and appreciative of Congresswoman Jayapal’s advocacy for this investment of $1 million to support YouthCare’s Constellation Center,” said Degale Cooper, CEO, YouthCare. “The new workforce development center, situated in Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood, will break ground this summer. Investing in YouthCare will help us build a hub of hope, resilience, and purpose for young people as they gain skills, develop connections, and become ready for livable wage jobs to sustain their futures. We are grateful for Congresswoman Jayapal’s ongoing support and for her vision and commitment to young people and our community.”
More detailed information on each of these projects can be found here. Since the reinstatement of CPF by the Democratic House leadership in the 117th Congress, Jayapal has secured $57,626,089 for 39 community projects in WA-07. The full list from FY22 can be found here and FY23 here.
This press release has been updated to reflect the total dollar amount secured by Rep. Jayapal following the passage of the second FY24 Appropriations Bill.
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