Community Project Funding

Please note that these requests do not guarantee funding. Final budgetary decisions are made by the Appropriations Committee.

• $500,000: Montgomery County Community College – The Challenger Learning Center at Montco Pottstown Project.

• Address: 340 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell, PA, 19422.

• Description The funding would be used to provide access and remove barriers to the region’s students to the Challenger Learning Center’s experience, support the incorporation and installation of a Voyage Mark II Solar System Exhibit, and allow MCCC to expand its Discovery Programs with "STEM-powered" adventures through hands-on challenges in virtual reality, coding, and AI further creating a regional hub for experiential STEM education. Expansion of Discovery Programs would also provide for multiple classes to participate simultaneously in full- academic day STEM-immersion activities. Federal funding will enable CLC to fully develop all proposed Discovery Programs that incorporate Virtual Reality hardware & software, increase presence, achievement, and persistence of historically excluded communities in STEM fields, and remove barriers for Title I districts. 

• Financial Disclosure Letter can be found here.

• Federal Nexus: Section 20102 of Title 51 of the United States Code.

• $350,000: Family Service of Montgomery County, PA – The Montgomery County Reentry Initiative Project.
  

• Address: 3125 Ridge Pike, Norristown, PA, 19403.

• Description: The funding would be used to provide reentry planning and reduce the barriers to successful reentry for all men and women at Montgomery County Correctional Facility (MCCF). The MCRI is comprised of more than 72 organizations and individuals working collectively to reduce the risk factors for recidivism and ensure that returning individuals have the supports and services to reestablish their lives and achieve stability.  MCRI prioritizes five barriers to successful reentry—1. Accessing and Maintaining Employment 2. Housing 3. Financial Wellness 4. Accessing Timely and Effective Mental Health, Medication and Drug and Alcohol Services Post-Release 5. Parenting, Childcare, and Natural Supports.  The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because approximately 62% of the women and 33% of the men surveyed during incarceration in 2024 at MCCF reported having a documented behavioral health concern for which they are receiving or have received treatment. By providing targeted services post-release, MCRI reduces the rates of recidivism at great cost savings to the community.

• Financial Disclosure Letter can be found here.

• Federal Nexus: Section 501 of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (34 USC § 10152).

• $2,000,000: Montgomery County Redevelopment Authority – LaMott Senior Affordable Housing Project.

• Address: 104 West Main Street, Norristown, PA, 19401.

• Description: The funding would be used for a new construction 100% senior affordable housing development located in south Cheltenham Township of Montgomery County bordering the City of Philadelphia, which consists of 60 rental units serving low- and moderate-income (20-60% AMI) senior residents (aged 55 and older). Adjacent to the LaMott African Methodist Episcopal (A.M.E.) Church, the existing vacant lot, once developed, will offer high-quality and much-needed affordable housing units as well as community amenities and supportive services for the senior population, contributing to the equity, safety, mobility, and overall wellbeing of the local community. The project will be designed to achieve certification under ENERGY STAR New Construction Multifamily program. Upon completion, the project will greatly benefit the low- and moderate-income families in the local community and help address the socioeconomic inequalities by offering equitable access to housing.

• Financial Disclosure Letter can be found here.  

• Federal Nexus: 42 USC 5305(a)(1), 5305(a)(2), 5305(a)(4), and/or 5305(a)(5).

• $3,000,000.00: Reading Area Community College – Schmidt Training and Technology Center Expansion for Workforce Development Project

• Address: 10 South 2nd Street, Reading, PA, 19603.

• Description: The funding would be used for the institution to make physical improvements to an existing, under-utilized building on campus. Formerly a warehouse for the Reading Eagle, RACC currently uses the facility for storage. However, due to the ever-increasing demands for its workforce development programs, the college recently underwent a feasibility study that identified the warehouse as the ideal location through which RACC could expand its current CNC Operator training, as well as develop a new industry-recognized welding program.

• Financial Disclosure Letter can be found here.

• Federal Nexus: 42 USC 5305(a)(1), 5305(a)(2), 5305(a)(4), and/or 5305(a)(5).

• $7,637,500: Montgomery County Housing Authority – The Montgomery County Housing Authority (MCHA)'s Affordable Housing Preservation Initiative (AHPI) Project

• Address: 104 W. Main Street, Suite 1 Norristown, PA, 19401.

• Description: The funding would be used for proposed projects at three of MCHA's High-Rise structures designed for older adults and people with disabilities, as follows: Marshall Lee Towers in Conshohocken, design and remediate all known environmental conditions within 17 units currently impacted by other construction projects and introduce ADA-accessible features in all 17 units. Sidney Pollock House in Pottstown, replace first-floor windows and exterior doors. Within the common area, paint and replace flooring and handrails. Upgrade the aging boiler that provides heat and install new water heaters and thermostats in all 102 units. Golden Age Manor in Royersford, replace the aging roof on the building that contains 85 residential units. Expand the residential unit count by redesigning currently underutilized space to create two new fully ADA residential units and other interior and exterior ADA improvements to serve the entire building. Paint common areas and replace handrails and lighting. 

• Financial Disclosure Letter can be found here.

• Federal Nexus: 42 USC 5305(a)(1), 5305(a)(2), 5305(a)(4), and/or 5305(a)(5).

• $6,000,000: Upper Merion Township – Water Pollution Control Center and Hydrothermal Carbonization Equipment Project.

• Address: 175 West Valley Forge Road, King of Prussia, PA, 19406.

• Description: The funding would be used to install a Hydrothermal Carbonization (HTC) system at their local wastewater treatment plant. The project aims to transform their wastewater treatment process, converting organic waste into a valuable resource. The HTC system operates under moderate temperatures and pressures, transforming sewage sludge into hydrochar, a carbon-rich material with potential energy applications. This process not only significantly reduces waste volume but also recovers energy and nutrients, contributing to a circular economy. Moreover, HTC can effectively eliminate emerging contaminants often missed by conventional treatments. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because Upper Merion is home to nearly 35,000 Pennsylvanians, all served by the Township's two wastewater treatment plants. Upgrading the wastewater process equipment to a hydrothermal carbonization system will reduce the amount of wastewater sludge produced, reduce the costs of sludge disposal, and minimize or eliminate the landfilling of wastewater sludge.

• Financial Disclosure Letter can be found here.

• Federal Nexus: Title VI of the Clean Water Act, 33 USC 1381 et seq.

• $2,984,000: West Norriton Township – Rittenhouse Pump Station Force Main Replacement Project.

• Address: 1630 West Marshall Street, West Norriton, PA, 19403.

• Description: The funding would be used to replace the first 8,500 linear feet of 18-inch cast iron with new 24-inch cast iron. This first 8,500 linear feet is generally located between the Schuylkill River and Trail, from the pump station to Stony Creek, which is the border of West Norriton and Norristown Borough. Additional associated work includes temporary bypass pumping, pump impeller replacement, startup and testing of the force main, and site restoration. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because the force main is beyond its useful life, and substantially more prone to breaks that would result in direct sewage discharge to the Schuylkill River, which is a National Heritage Area, would result in environmental cleanup and repairs costs, but also disruption of River and Trail users, and strict fines from regulatory agencies, that could be prevented. Additionally, 4 downstream water intakes would be impacted if a break occurred. 2 of the intakes supply 40% of the water to Philadelphia. This is a serious health, safety and welfare issue that needs to be addressed as soon as possible.

• Financial Disclosure Letter can be found here.

• Federal Nexus: Title VI of the Clean Water Act, 33 USC 1381 et seq.

• $2,000,000: Upper Providence Township – Second Avenue Force Main and Gravity Main Replacement Project.
  
  

• Address: 1286 Black Rock Road, Upper Providence, PA, 19460.

• Description: The funding would be used to support construction of the Second Avenue Force Main and Gravity Main Replacement Project. The project addresses the pressing need for the replacement of an aging sanitary sewer force main and gravity main along Second Avenue within the Township supporting the Mingo Pump Station. The existing force main and gravity main infrastructure consists of asbestos cement pipes, which were installed in the 1960’s.  The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because the aging infrastructure poses a looming threat of failure, which would affect approximately 2,163 households, three schools, and a residential living complex, that are currently at risk of losing access to basic sanitary sewer function. Such a scenario not only presents immediate challenges, but also carries long-term implications for public health, environmental integrity, and economic stability.

• Financial Disclosure Letter can be found here.

• Federal Nexus: Title VI of the Clean Water Act, 33 USC 1381 et seq.

• $250,000: Youth Advocates Program – The Juvenile Justice Crime Prevention Initiative Project.

• Address: 2851 Centre Avenue, Suite E, Reading, PA, 19605.

• Description: The funding would be used to support juvenile justice prevention programs that effectively address and mitigate the root causes of youth involvement in criminal activities, which are crucial for fostering positive outcomes. By equipping young individuals with coping mechanisms and emotional regulation skills, these interventions not only prevent justice system involvement but also promote overall well-being and resilience among at-risk youth. A combination of mentorship, educational support, and mental health interventions forms a potent strategy for successful juvenile justice prevention programs.

• Financial Disclosure Letter can be found here.

• Federal Nexus: section 501 of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (34 USC § 10152).

• $1,721,760: Lower Salford Township – Lederach PA 113 (Harleysville Pike Alternate Route) Shared Use Path – Phase 1 Project.

• Address: 379 Main Street, Harleysville, PA, 19438.

• Description: The funding would be used for the funding for the construction of a shared use/multimodal path (approximately 2800 LF) to expand and connect the local trail network. On its south end, the new trail segment will connect to an existing trailhead and parking area. On its north end, the path will connect to both an existing trail segment and to a new trail segment being built through a land development project, ultimately providing pedestrian and bicycle access into the Village of Lederach, a historic mixed-use center.  The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because the roads in and around the historic village, particularly Harleysville Pike (SR 0113), carry substantial traffic volumes with very minimal shoulder. Offering a separate facility will have safety benefits for all users. Also, the path segment will combine with existing facilities to provide dedicated pedestrian and bicycle connections between residential, recreational, commercial, and community uses. This connectivity is particularly important for individuals and families that do not have the consistent use of a vehicle to reach essential destinations.

• Financial Disclosure Letter can be found here.

• Federal Nexus: 23 USC 133(b) (Surface Transportation Block Grant Program).

• $2,400,000: Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Association – Lansdale Main Street Grade Crossing Improvements Project.

• Address: 1234 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19107.

• Description: The funding would be used to construct safety improvements at the railway-highway grade crossing on its Lansdale/Doylestown Regional Rail line at Main Street in Lansdale. These will comprise of the application of dynamic envelope markings to the pavement approaching the grade crossing, installation of four-quadrant gates to protect all four lanes of traffic, in each direction at the grade crossing and construction of pedestrian crossing gates on sidewalks to protect all pedestrian paths through the crossing.  The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because Lansdale is undertaking improvements along East Main Street from Greenwood Avenue to the railroad grade crossing that will make the street safer, more pleasant, and fully accessible to attract new businesses, greater vehicular, bicycle and pedestrian traffic. Improving the safety provisions at the grade crossing will meet the increased needs that the streetscape project aspires to bring.

• Financial Disclosure Letter can be found here.
  

• Federal Nexus: 23 USC 133(b) (Surface Transportation Block Grant Program).

• $3,000,000: Kutztown University of Pennsylvania – Promoting Our PA History and Folk Culture by Restoring the Sharadin Farmstead at Kutztown University Project.

• Address: 1500 Kutztown Road, Kutztown, PA, 19530.

• Description: The funding would be used to perform structural repairs to restore the 169-year-old barn at the Sharadin Farmstead and provide necessary maintenance to surrounding buildings (e.g., historic schoolhouse). To ensure the preservation of these resources and promote greater accessibility, restoration efforts will address the significant structural issues that make it currently unsafe to allow visitors inside the barn. Repairs to the barn’s timber frame, replacement of the failing roof, excavation of the barn bank, and repair of the foundation wall will allow new events and programming to take place inside the barn. Without restoration, the Center’s vital community assets are at risk of irreversible decay. This deterioration will diminish tourism and rob future generations of valuable educational and cultural experiences. Investing in the Farmstead will merge smart economic development with educational enrichment that celebrates Pennsylvania’s folk heritage.

• Financial Disclosure Letter can be found here.

• Federal Nexus: 42 USC 5305(a)(1), 5305(a)(2), 5305(a)(4), and/or 5305(a)(5).

• $750,000: County of Montgomery – Germantown Pike and Sumneytown Pike Corridor Improvement Plan Project.

• Address: Montgomery County Courthouse, P.O. Box 311, Norristown, PA, 19404-0311.

• Description: The funding would be used to build on the vision to take a deeper dive into the feasibility of funding and constructing these proposed multimodal corridor improvements on two county owned roads: Germantown Pike and Sumneytown Pike. The affected communities support multi-faceted improvements as they increase safety, enhance mobility, and develop alternative transportation modes.  The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because this effort is a deeper dive to assess the specific transportation improvements needed along both Germantown and Sumneytown Pikes. The purpose is to develop a preferred alternative, determine its feasibility, identify potential environmental impacts, and highlight the estimated costs associated with a list of practical, phased multimodal improvements to both corridors that includes public outreach. The study will be used to promote the selection of these projects into the Metropolitan Planning Organization’s (DVRPC) Transportation Improvement Plan.

• Financial Disclosure Letter can be found here.

• Federal Nexus: 23 USC 133(b) (Surface Transportation Block Grant Program).

• $5,000,000: Upper Merion Township – Prince Frederick Boulevard Extension Project.

• Address: 175 West Valley Forge Road, King of Prussia, PA, 19406.

• Description: The funding would be used for the completion of a boulevard extension (+/- 800 feet) from Henderson Road to the existing Prince Frederick Boulevard which connects to US 202. The project will also include the acquisition of a portion of private property adjacent to a township property already earmarked for the extension. A new signalized intersection at Henderson Road and Prince Frederick Street will also be installed. The project has already been preliminarily designed.  The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because as part of DVRPC's and Montgomery County's PA Turnpike Interchange Study for a new Henderson Road interchange, the Study indicated that the traffic level of service for DeKalb Pike (US 202) & Henderson Road intersection would degrade to a E service level (Unstable/Unpredictable) if the interchange is not built. Since the interchange is not moving forward at this time, the creation of the Prince Frederick Boulevard extension would provide traffic congestion relief for thousands of vehicles daily.

• Financial Disclosure Letter can be found here.

• Federal Nexus: 23 U.S.C. 133(b)(Surface Transportation Block Grant Program).

• $500,000: Montgomery County Redevelopment Authority – Maurice Stephens House Project.
  

• Address: 104 West Main Street, Norristown, PA, 19401.

• Description: The funding would be used to construct an addition to the Valley Forge National Park’s Maurice Stephens House, the new location of the park’s main office. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because the project is consistent with the goals and primary objective of the community development program due to the transformation of the Maurice Stephen’s House property with demolition, rehabilitation; blight removal, construction, and capital improvements to ensure the site will benefit residents and visitors and in turn the local economy.  Over 2 million people visit the Valley Forge National Park annually, and they estimate reaching half of these visitors (1 million individuals) once the office is relocated to the Grand Parade and café is open to attract visitors. They anticipate providing programs to 5,000 participants in the first year of operation following the completion of the campaign, an increase of more than 250%.

• Financial Disclosure Letter can be found here. 

• Federal Nexus: 42 USC 5305(a)(1), 5305(a)(2), 5305(a)(4), and/or 5305(a)(5).

Please note that these requests do not guarantee funding.
Final budgetary decisions are made by the Appropriations Committee.

• $459,414.14: East Greenville Borough - East Greenville Waterworks Dam Dredging project
• Address: 206 Main Street, East Greenville, PA, 18041.
• The funding will be used to benefit the residents of East Greenville Borough—a rural community in my district by maintaining and preserving a source of drinking water for the borough. As East Greenville experiences more severe rainstorms, silt, sediment, and debris are washed down the creek and into the impoundment dam area, limiting the volume of water in the dam. This project will remove silt and sediment from the water impoundment dam; ensuring an adequate supply of drinking water that can be drawn into the East Greenville Borough's Water Treatment Plant. An added benefit will be to increase the depth of the water, reducing the water temperature during summer months which is more beneficial for aquatic life and fish.
• Financial Disclosure Letter: https://dean.house.gov/_cache/files/4/3/43af3ad5-5f57-4883-bee4-d906670a69be/2F6B7D584202683DE21257E9B0E4F9D9.fd--east-greenville.pdf 
• Federal Nexus: 779 of division A of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018 (Public Law 115–141) as well as the the Safe Drinking Water Act, 42 U.S.C. 300j-12.

• 7,000,000: Borough of Pottstown - Keystone Boulevard Extension Project
  • Description: for engineering and design costs for the Keystone Boulevard Project which will provide street access to properties that do not currently have it. For the sites that do have access to existing Keystone Boulevard, extending the road would improve their accessibility by providing access to the recently reconstructed Stowe interchange on U.S. 422. Additionally, the project would provide more convenient access to westbound U.S. 422 for parts of Pottstown, including areas along College Drive and Industrial Highway
  • Financial Disclosure Letter 

• $2,500,000: County of Montgomery, PA - Cross County Trail (CCT) Bridge & Trail
  • Description: for design and construction of a bridge to carry the Cross County Trail (CCT) over Germantown Pike (a multi-lane state road) in Plymouth Township, and design and construction of the 2-mile CCT segment from the Germantown Pike bridge east to its planned connection point at Joshua Rd. in Whitemarsh Township where it will tie into the soon-to-be constructed CCT through Erdenheim Farm. Once completed, these projects will provide a key alternative means of transportation for commuters and enhanced access to the broader county trail network for all trail users.
  • Financial Disclosure Letter 

• $1,994,875: Apprentice Training for the Electrical Industry (ATEI): Net Zero Training Program
  • Description: For bringing ATEI's Electrical Training Program in Collegeville PA into the 21st Century. ATEI currently offers multiple certifications in the areas of highest growth which will be the green jobs of the future. This funding would transform their training from a purely theoretical classroom to a hands-on training approach. They would strengthen their certifications in: Electric Vehicle Infrastructure, Energy Storage and Microgrid Training, Solar, Torqueing, and High Voltage Safety Training - all of which feature rigorous evaluation components in order to be awarded. The addition of E.V. charging stations, a microgrid, and a solar/battery array at our Collegeville Campus will provide instructors the resources to properly train the workforce for the jobs of tomorrow.
  • Financial Disclosure Letter 

• $1,275,667: Manor College - Manor College Refugee, Immigrant and First-Generation College Student Support
  • Description: For students who attend Manor College with advising, tuition, housing, and other essential needs as they make their way through their two to four years at Manor College. As the United States gets ready to receive a record number of refugees from Ukraine and other conflicts worldwide, Manor College seeks to prepare for the continuing education needs of these populations. Many of these students will also reach our communities as immigrants, and many throughout the region are the first generation in their families to attend college. Manor College is America’s only accredited nonprofit institution of higher education founded by Ukrainians. In 1947 the Ukrainian Sisters of St. Basil the Great founded the college.
  • Financial Disclosure Letter 

• $1,000,000: Temple University Ambler Campus - Temple Ambler Community Kitchen (TACK)
  • Description: For Temple's Ambler Community Kitchen (TACK) project -- an adaptive reuse of a former dining hall to develop a shared commercial kitchen and food incubator including related programing to foster food entrepreneurs, on the Temple University Ambler campus in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. The long-term goal of the TACK is to support the local food system, foster entrepreneurship in diverse populations, and encourage living wage job creation.  This two-phase project begins with the commercial kitchen and second phase of farmable land, all efforts will be supported with educational programs, university research, and business support services entrepreneurs. This funding will support equipment acquisition and buildout of the community kitchen, as well as no-cost entrepreneurial programming and consulting.  Programming will support food businesses in marketing and strategy development, as well as pitch prep and networking with fellow entrepreneurs.
  • Financial Disclosure Letter 

• $1,000,000: Habitat for Humanity Montgomery and Delaware Counties - Hatfield II
  • Description: To demolish a dorm building on the five-acre property and construct eighteen new twin homes specifically for low-moderate income families. The proposed homes are 2-story, 3-bedroom, 1.5 bathroom, roughly 1440 square feet in size. This project is congruent with the County development plan, specifically Goal #3, Expanding Homeownership - Creation of new affordable home ownership opportunities for households between 50% and 80% of the area median income. Home prices will not exceed 30% of the homeowner’s gross income and they must agree to completing 200 hours of sweat equity, the Almost Home course, and work with a financial coach for one year.
  • Financial Disclosure Letter 

• $500,000: Big Brothers Big Sisters Independence Region - Big Brothers Big Sisters Independence Norristown Renovation & Expansion
  • Description: For much needed renovation & expansion of the Big Brothers Big Sisters Independence (BBBSI) office in Norristown, PA – serving Montgomery County and the greater Philadelphia region.  The project will:
    • enable acquisition of additional space, contiguous or in the same general vicinity
    • address building infrastructure needs for existing & newly acquired space (e.g., roof, exterior wall maintenance, HVAC, plumbing, water proofing, fire safety, signage)
    • enable interior redesign to better support families (e.g., outfit a space that is welcoming and conducive to family engagement, modernize technology)
  • This investment will enable BBBSI to create a Mentoring Hub in Montgomery County for these youth and families, enabling greater youth, family, and community engagement, and making it easier to expand and serve families in the outer reaches of Montgomery and surrounding counties. 
  • Financial Disclosure Letter 

• $450,000: Community Hero Action Group - Community Hero Action Group's Community Health and Wellness Initiative
  • Description: For Community Hero Action Group's Black Health Matters initiative to address the community’s needs by strengthening education and awareness around health issues that disproportionately impact the African American community through information workshops and panels on issues including mental health, trauma-informed care, heart disease, tele-health, health advocacy, home health care, and engaging medical and wellness experts. Community Hero Action Group will also deliver health resources directly to the community by funding culturally competent community health workers who will provide personal support, education, and medical technology assistance to the community in their homes or at convenient, locally-situated neighborhood locations. And finally, they will develop a sustained pipeline of minority medical professionals by providing assistance to overcome financial barriers like costly exams and certifications.
  • Financial Disclosure Letter 

• $442,287: Montgomery County District Attorney's Office - Montgomery County Racial Justice Improvement Project (RJIP)
  • Description: Expand The Racial Justice Improvement Project's  diversion services for minority youth through two primary streams; (1) school districts with elevated rates of disproportionate minority contact (DMC), and (2) Magisterial District Courts.  Students and their families from districts with the highest rates of DMC; these areas will receive services through the project to provide an alternative to police referral for school-based offenses. The funding will also allow for additional case managers to be hired to assist students through the program, as well as commission a detailed analysis, review, and report of the program.
  • Financial Disclosure Letter 

• $332,275: Today is a Good Day - Montgomery County NICU Families Comprehensive Hospital Partnership
  • Description: to expand Today is a Good Day's work across all 5 NICUs within the 4th District, including salaries for NICU Family Advocates, a Spanish interpreter, the lease of a Today is a Good Day van to ensure service delivery to hospital partners and families, equipment, supplies, and marketing costs. Families experiencing the NICU face challenges that require the very specific personal and financial support. To meet these needs, Today is a Good Day brings its knowledge of this experience by providing the exact personal and financial support needed to help families through this experience. Today is a Good Day provides NICU care packages, direct financial support to cover transportation and other unexpected costs associated with a NICU stay and “Navigate the NICU Sessions” that offer support and connections to families who have previously experienced the NICU.
  • Financial Disclosure Letter 

• $300,000: Mitzvah Circle Foundation - Diaper Bank Program
  • Description: To assist residents throughout the entire 4th Congressional District by providing diapers, and other baby essentials as well as incontinence products for adults through our Diaper Bank Program. Mitzvah Circle will use these funds for administrative costs to run the program as well as purchases goods for their Diaper Bank program directly from the National Diaper Bank Network and other sources at a significant discount. They will work with staff and social workers from reputable referral agencies to deliver diapers and other non-perishable critical supplies directly to the doors of families and individuals in need.
  • Financial Disclosure Letter 

• $226,500: The Welcome Project PA - SAGA Community Center
  • Description: To expand programs for LGBT+ populations, including a LGBT+ Mental Health Program (subsidized individual and group therapy); LGBT+ Support Groups; a Healthcare Best Practices for Trans, Nonbinary & Intersex Patients Program; LGBT+ Competency Trainings; LGBT+ Arts Programming; our LGBT+ Library & Educational Events; & Youth Programs. This funding will also go to expand their Healthcare Best Practices Program which strives to improve access to healthcare for LGBT+ people via doctor training programs & materials development. Finally, their therapy program seeks to improve the mental health outcomes of LGBT+ communities, providing case management and assisting with wellness goals, as well as organizing youth groups for LGBT+ teens to reduce isolation and help to prevent suicide.
  • Financial Disclosure Letter 

• $220,416: Whitpain Township - Ambler Alley Storm Sewer Project
  • Description: to install storm sewer piping along Ambler Alley. The proposed storm sewer project will assist with alleviating existing drainage concerns along Ambler Alley which will benefit the community by capturing and providing proper drainage of stormwater runoff. In addition, as the Ambler Alley roadway is set to serve as a direct access road off the proposed Wissahickon Park property, making the roadway more structurally sound from a stormwater management perspective, which is both important and beneficial to the surrounding community.
  • Financial Disclosure Letter 

• $210,000: MossRehab-Albert Einstein Healthcare Network - MossRehab Institute for Brain Health
• Description: For the purchase of basic equipment needs for their new Institute for Brain Health, including a Vestibular Balance Master, BariHab Mat, and specialized transportation vehicles. This equipment will advance their facility's brain health services, specializing in former military personnel who have separated from active duty, and a focus on those who were separated with “Other Than Honorable” or “Dishonorable” discharge status due to TBI or Psychological Health (PH) conditions. It will also serve First Responders and retired professional athletes who have sustained mild to moderate TBI and are experiencing lingering neurological problems or co-morbid PH conditions.
• Financial Disclosure Letter 

• $100,000: Montgomery County Community College - Montco Early College Academy
  • Description: funding to sponsor three courses for 100 students at the discounted ECSO 1-credit tuition rate which equates to 350 credits. Additionally, as the pilot engages Title I eligible high school partners, MCCC estimates that approximately half of the students would require additional financial assistance to participate in the pilot. MCCC proposes additional funding for books and supplies, technology and Wi-fi, and essential needs to address food and/or home insecurity to ensure financial hardship does not create a barrier for students.
  • Financial Disclosure Letter 

Please note that these requests do not guarantee funding.
Final budgetary decisions are made by the Appropriations Committee.

Recipient / Project: Norristown Area High School / Norristown Area High School Library Transformation Project

• Address of the recipient: 401 North Whitehall Road Norristown, PA 19460

• Amount of the request: $200,000

• Project Description and Purpose: The funding would be used for transforming Norristown Area High School (NAHS) library—which has not seen major updating since 1979—into innovative spaces that foster community, collaboration, and creation. This includes modernizing technological capabilities, furnishing a space that is welcoming and conducive to learning, increased periodical and educational software subscriptions, and creating after school enrichment programs.

• Community Benefit: The Norristown Area High School (NAHS) is a comprehensive public high school within the Norristown Area School District (NASD) established in 1870. NAHS educates a diverse population of over 2100 students annually across grades 9 - 12. 100% of current students are now eligible for the federal free/reduced lunch program based on the high district poverty level and over 50% of the low income housing in Montgomery is located in NAS district. This investment would help benefit some of the students in most need of quality learning spaces in our district. 

• Financial Disclosure: See Below

Recipient / Project: TriCounty Community Network / Support Our Own Project

• Address of the recipient: 724 N Adams St, Suite 203 Pottstown, PA19464.

• Amount of the request: $445,460.00

• Project Description and Purpose: TriCounty Community Network’s Support Our Own Project uses Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) to improve health outcomes. The services they provide include screening and referring participants to local resources looking at factors such as housing, utilities, transportation, access to food, employment status, and safety. This funding would be used to expand staffing and community outreach in the 4th congressional district. 

• Community Benefit: This project will serve the following municipalities in the Fourth District: Pottstown Borough, West Pottsgrove Township, Upper Pottsgrove Township, Lower Pottsgrove Township, Collegeville Borough, Limerick Township, New Hanover Township, Perkiomen Township, Royersford Borough, Trappe Borough, Boyertown Borough, Colebrookdale Township, and Bechtelsville Borough. The SDOH impact up to 80% of an individual’s health outcomes and plays a large role in health inequities in our community. A coordinated and systematic approach to address the SDOH can not only improve the health outcomes of our community, but also improve food security, housing stability, community safety, access to transportation, unemployment rates, and the quality of life for our community members. Taxpayer dollars spent on this program are well spent as they benefit the community as a whole and will have a direct or indirect impact on each community member.

• Financial Disclosure: See Below
  
  

Recipient / Project: Holy Redeemer Hospital / Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) - Care without limit

• Address of the recipient: 1648 Moredon Road Huntingdon Valley, PA 19006.

• Amount of the request: $238,000

• Project Description and Purpose: The funding would be used for staff to expand the programs model of care that keeps families and babies with NAS together, while engaging, educating and treating Substance Abuse Disorder during the recovery process.  These professionals will assist us to expand our presence and outreach, codify a comprehensive evaluation tool for the screening of mothers, manage reporting guidelines and monitor and manage the continuum of care for families in the program. They will accomplish this through an integrated model of care using a trauma informed approach that is stigma and judgement free. They aim to reach women before they arrive for delivery. 

• Community Benefit: Holy Redeemer Hospital (HRH) serves patients from parts of Montgomery, Bucks and Philadelphia counties which collectively reported 454 cases of Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) born at one of the 17 hospitals in those counties in 2018.  HRH has cared for an average of 40 babies with NAS and their mothers each year since 2013. The services will be aligned with community partnerships with the Department of Health, Montgomery and Bucks Counties Health and Human Services, the City of Philadelphia’s opioid addiction efforts and a broad range of private and public addiction programs.

• Financial Disclosure: See Below

Recipient / Project: Hedwig House Inc. / Food Security and Social Isolation Prevention for Adults with Mental Illness

• Address of the recipient: 109 Jenkins Avenue, Lansdale, PA 19446, and 1920 Old York Road Abington, PA 19001

• Amount of the request: $270,300

• Project Description and Purpose: The funding would be used for continuing its Food Security and Social Isolation Prevention for Adults with Mental Illness program with funding for staffing, communication and outreach efforts, technological costs, among other costs necessary to continue operating. This program serves some of our most vulnerable populations by making sure individuals and families have nutritious meals and food in their pantries.  Following government guidelines, staff delivers home cooked meals prepared by volunteers and donated food from local restaurants. We also deliver groceries and assist with shopping.  PREP Through Tech increases social interactions and provides opportunities for social interaction.

• Community Benefit: Hedwig House’s constituency are vulnerable adults living in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania who without us would likely fall through the cracks due to limited or no other supports. These services also help benefit the community as a whole by reducing other costs like avoiding homelessness, hospitalizations, incarceration, and more. 

• Financial Disclosure: See Below

Recipient / Project: JEVS Human Services / The Choice is Yours

• Address of the recipient: 1845 Walnut Street, 7th Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19103

• Amount of the request: $400,000

• Project Description and Purpose: The funding would be used for a 13-month innovative diversion program for first-time, nonviolent felony drug sellers. The program is modeled on and adapted from Back on Track, a program developed in San Francisco, California by then District Attorney Kamala Harris. As an alternative-to-incarceration, TCY diverts participants away from jail into both 1) “TCY court” (a problem-solving court featuring a dedicated judge who monitors participant progress and motivates compliance); and 2) a suite of community-based social services and supports delivered by JEVS Human Services. TCY combines the best of what we know works to prevent individuals from becoming re-involved in criminal activity: educational and employment services; case management; mentoring; assistance with housing, child support, public benefits, and other key services; and participation in restorative justice activities including 220 hours of community service. The program has been operating in Philadelphia County, PA since 2012 with considerable success. This proposal will fund full replication in Montgomery County, PA to serve 40 participants annually.

• Community Benefit: This is a valuable use of taxpayer funds because This program saves taxpayer money, reduces crime, produces life-long positive outcomes or participants, and is an efficacious model program of justice system reform.

• Financial Disclosure: See Below

Recipient / Project: Colebrookdale Railroad Preservation Trust / Boyertown Yard Downtown Safety, Accessibility, and Connectivity Critical Improvements

• Address of the recipient:100 South Chestnut Street, Boyertown, PA  19512

• Amount of the request: $1,350,000

• Project Description and Purpose: The funding would be used to finish safety and mobility improvements to the Boyertown Yard, a critically-needed, community-identified and broadly-supported community and economic development project left in a dangerous and half-completed state because of the Pandemic. The project in its current state presents significant safety and mobility concerns and a missed opportunity for the region. Berks County received a National Association of Counties Award in 2020 for the federal/state/local private-public partnership driving the re-invention of this important space. 

• Community Benefit: This project is in Boyertown’s downtown where rail freight, recreational passenger trains, rail bikes, automobiles, bicyclists, and pedestrians all commingle. The location is the hub for North America’s 2nd-highest-rated tourist railroad, an $8M/year engine of economic growth.  The work proposed includes an off-street access route for tour buses and an off-street park-and-ride station for Pottstown Area Rapid Transit's potential expanded service to Berks County. It includes public restrooms, landscaping, and stormwater management. This project would promote the safety, livability, and economic attractiveness of the region for my constituents.

• Financial Disclosure: See Below

Recipient / Project: Borough of Hatboro / Memorial Park ADA/Accessible Upgrade Project

• Address of the recipient: 414 S. York Road, Hatboro, PA, 19040.

• Amount of the request: $460,000

• Project Description and Purpose: The Borough will also be installing an ADA accessible Trail through this project. The ADA accessible trail will run from the parking lot in the Northwest side of Memorial Park to the bridge that connects both sides of Memorial Park. On the other side of the bridge, the trail will link directly into the accessible playground, allowing children with disabilities to easily access the playground. The trail will also extend further west and will connect to the Memorial Pool Parking Lot. This will provide visitors of the pool with easy access to the playground and vice versa. The Borough will also be installing an ADA accessible bridge that connects both sides of the trail in Memorial Park. The existing bridge in Memorial Park is not ADA accessible. While usable, the bridge is not wheelchair friendly which prevents those with disabilities from crossing the bridge and accessing either side of the park. By replacing the bridge with an ADA friendly bridge, we will be increasing the accessibility of the park by allowing those with disabilities to enjoy the park to its fullest capacity.

• Community Benefit: Making these improvements to Memorial Park will help Hatboro achieve its goal of becoming a fully accessible community that is friendly and inviting to everyone. The Borough of Hatboro approved a 2040 Comprehensive Plan and Parks & Rec Plan that outlies the goals for our parks. One of the major goals of the plan is to create a parks system friendly to all residents and visitors that coincides with Hatboro’s welcoming, inclusive atmosphere.

• Financial Disclosure: See Below

Recipient / Project: Montgomery County Housing Authority /  High Priority Capital Needs

• Address of the recipient: 104 W. Main Street, Norristown, PA 19401

• Amount of the request: $7,700,000

• Project Description and Purpose: This funding will be used to support the critical and life safety needs across all its residential properties. Projects include installing a new fire alarm, replacing a leaking roof, fixing building-wide water infiltration, replacing obsolete furnaces, installing compactors and replacing a building-wide leaking plumbing system.

• Community Benefit: MCHA’s public housing stock is aging; its youngest property is 38 years old.  While MCHA has invested heavily, to date, in critical and life safety projects within its portfolio, the capital funds it receives from HUD are insufficient to meet all of the critical and life safety capital needs of the portfolio. Receiving these funds, allows the MCHA to continue its commitment to preserve the safety of the buildings for some of the 4th District’s most vulnerable.

• Financial Disclosure: See Below

Recipient / Project: Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) / Schuylkill River Trail Safety Improvements at Norristown Transportation Center

• Address of the recipient: 1234 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107.

• Amount of the request: $336,000

• Project Description and Purpose: The funding would be used for various improvements to make the area where Norristown Transportation Center connects to the Schuylkill River Trail safer and more convenient for local residents, travelers on the trail, and SEPTA passengers.  Dynamic pavement painting will be refreshed, new caution reflectors and new flashing caution signs will be installed at three pedestrian crossings.  A light pole that stands in the middle of the bicycle path will be relocated to remove a potentially dangerous impediment to traffic flow and new caution reflectors will be added to additional light poles.  Caution wraps will be added to stair railings and the stair treads will be improved to benefit pedestrian safety. Finally, SEPTA will expand the trail right-of-way at certain choke points.

• Community Benefit: This project will benefit the residents of Norristown Borough and travelers in my district, whether on foot or bicycle, on the Schuylkill River Trail as well as passengers on the Norristown High Speed Line, Manayunk/Norristown Regional Rail Line and eight suburban bus routes that serve the Norristown Transportation Center.  Norristown Borough residents are 37.2% African-American and 27.9% Hispanic.  19.3% of the borough’s population lives below the federal poverty line. This project will provide safety benefits and increase the utility and attractiveness of transportation assets that offer valuable connections for accessing employment, engaging in commerce, and pursuing leisure that will become more valuable in the coming years.

• Financial Disclosure: See Below
  
  

Recipient / Project: Greater Philadelphia YMCA / YMCA New Early Learning Center: Towards Child Care Equity

• Address of the recipient: 400 Fayette Street, Suite 250, Conshohocken, PA 19428

• Amount of the request: $300,000

• Project Description and Purpose: These funds will be used to build a new Early Learning Center (ELC) in Abington Township, Pennsylvania. The ELC will offer subsidized high-quality education to children from low-income families in Abington and adjacent areas. GPY will provide socioemotional learning and care for 60-85 kids daily and positively impact the local economy with the creation of an additional education hub and dozens of jobs in Pennsylvania’s Fourth Congressional District.

• Community Benefit: As one of the nation’s largest child care provider serving more than 5000 children in 16 branches and 82 sites throughout the Greater Philadelphia area, GPY is uniquely positioned to leverage experts in the industry to deliver top quality programs. The building of a new Early Learning Center at 1073 Old York Road in Abington Township is timely and relevant as it directly addresses the inequity of access to child care services exposed during the pandemic. In the Abington area, roughly 45% of households earn less than $49,000 per year spending close to 20% of it with child care. Through GPY’s financial assistance program, many of those families will be able to register for an early learning program with affordable costs.

• Financial Disclosure: See Below