Meng Secures More Than $13.1 Million For Local Projects in Queens

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-Queens), New York’s senior member of the House Appropriations Committee – which funds all federal agencies, programs and initiatives – secured more than $13.1 million for 15 crucial projects throughout Queens. 

This Community Project Funding is money that was included in the new government spending package passed by the House and Senate last week and signed into law by President Biden over the weekend. The legislation funds part of the federal government through the end of the 2024 fiscal year.

“Here in Queens, we deserve to receive the federal funding we need, and I am proud to continue delivering critical money for our borough,” said Congresswoman Meng. “I will never stop fighting for Queens and working to bring back resources from Washington that improve services, safety and quality of life for local residents. I look forward to these important projects moving forward and seeing them serve our communities.”

Meng obtained a total of $13,147,279 for the 15 projects. They include: 

1. More than $1.6 Million for the National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA) to purchase a multicultural, multipurpose community center in Woodside. The facility will offer a variety of educational, cultural and social opportunities and centralize resources and services that are currently scattered across various organizations.
2. $1.5 Million for the Flushing YMCA to construct a new community center that will expand the amount of space for programs and offer a multitude of services to Queens residents.
3. More than $1.2 Million for the New York City Police Department (NYPD) to purchase belt-worn trauma kits that contain life-saving equipment, so that police officers in Queens can help save the lives of those suffering numerous types of injuries.
4. $1 Million for the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to build a Cloudburst Management System to combat flooding in Queens. Cloudburst Management is a way of absorbing, storing and transferring stormwater to minimize flooding caused by heavy rain, and as a result prevent damage from flood waters. The system utilizes things like drainage pipes, underground tanks and green infrastructure.
5. $1 Million for Chhaya in Jackson Heights which serves the South Asian and Indo-Caribbean communities in Queens. The funds will go towards revitalizing its new community center to help grow and expand the organization’s programs, address accessibility issues and increase the number of people it serves, including local residents and small business owners.
6. $1 Million for CHAZAQ in Kew Gardens Hills which serves the area’s Jewish community. The money will be used to pay for a local youth center that provides activities for local Bukharian youth. 
7. $850,000 for the Queens Centers for Progress in Jamaica to improve its facility,which provides services to people with developmental disabilities. The funding will help the organization continue essential services for children, so that they can learn and grow.  
8. $850,000 for New Immigrant Community Empowerment (NICE) in Jackson Heights to acquire a worker center that will provide programs to assist the borough’s immigrant workforce, such as job training and certifications.
9. $850,000 for the South Asian Council for Social Services in Flushing to purchase a building that will allow it to expand its programs and services that include healthcare, benefits access, a food pantry, senior services and other assistance.
10. $850,000 for Selfhelp Community Services to upgrade infrastructure at its senior residence facility in Flushing, the Martin Lande House. Renovations include façade rehabilitation, heating improvements and handicapped accessibility projects.
11. $550,000 for the Public Housing Community Fund to revitalize outdoor space at the Pomonok Houses, in particular a new play space for children. Pomonok Houses is a New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) development in Queens.
12. $500,000 for the Queens District Attorney’s Cold Case Unit to identify human remains with DNA testing upgrades. There are approximately 200 victims in Queens whose remains are unidentified, many of them connected to homicide cases that cannot adequately be investigated in order for justice to be carried out. This project will allow the District Attorney’s Office to work with the FBI to identify the remains of these victims and provide long awaited answers to their families.
13. $500,000 for the Queens Botanical Gardenin Flushing to better serve the public with two new state-of-the-art greenhouses, resulting in improved programming, safety and experiences for visitors.
14. $500,000 for La Jornada in Rego Park to acquire a multipurpose community center in Woodside. The facility will be used asa senior center, aftercare location for kids, a work training center and a community center assisting families.
15. $300,000 for the Forest Hills American Legion Continental Post #1424 to make numerous building repairs that include fixing warped floors, exposed wiring, cracked walls and ceilings and improving access to its kitchen and bathroom for those with disabilities.