Chicago City Wire

Chicago, IL — This week, Congresswoman Delia C. Ramirez (IL-03) announced that she has been working to secure more than $30 million for 15 Community Projects in the Fiscal Year 2024 Appropriations bills that, if enacted, would expand access to affordable housing, food security, clean water, street, and pedestrian safety, and fund multiple other local infrastructure projects.

“I’m advocating for 15 community projects - the maximum number allowed - that would directly benefit the people who call IL-03 home. As the Appropriations process continues in the House, I am fighting for all 15 to be fully funded at the requested amount. I deeply appreciate the community leaders and organizations who are working to identify and put into place local initiatives that reflect the needs and priorities of IL-03. Community Project Funding would provide the funding needed for these initiatives to take that critical next step. While Republicans are seeking cuts to domestic spending, I am absolutely clear on how essential these dedicated, domestic dollars are to help secure safe, affordable housing, expand life-saving food security efforts, ensure our communities have clean drinking water, and invest in the safety of our infrastructure,” said Congresswoman Ramirez. “Communities across the northwest side of Chicago, Cook County, and DuPage County would directly benefit from this funding. As we continue to await updates from the Republican-controlled Appropriations Committee, I look forward to working productively to bring home these vital resources and ensure it’s swiftly dedicated so that these community-led projects can move forward .”

“Aging infrastructure is an ongoing challenge within our 60 forest preserves covering 26,000 DuPage acres. We appreciate the opportunity to partner with Congresswoman Ramirez to advance the Cenacle Bridge Project, one of 32 certified master plan projects that will help us meet our community’s needs for access to nature, recreation and active transportation options,” said Forest Preserve District of DuPage County President Daniel Hebreard.

"We are grateful that Congresswoman Ramirez selected Onward Neighborhood House’s plan to create a Welcoming and Healthy Community Center in Chicago's Belmont Cragin for consideration in the Fiscal Year 2024 appropriations process. This new community center will increase equitable access to food, health, and education resources for families in this growing and changing community, which has historically faced challenges in accessing these services. We are proud that Congresswoman Ramirez shares our vision for the project and the life-changing impact it will have on long-term residents and new immigrants settling in the area.  And we are confident that the House Appropriations Committee will see the value in this project and the other projects for Illinois's 3rd District selected for consideration by Congresswoman Ramirez," said Joel Stenftenagel with Onward Neighborhood House. 

"As a small non-profit organization serving to enrich the lives of the children and families of West Chicago, Illinois, our school would greatly benefit from the appropriations funding.  This funding will allow Educare West DuPage to prioritize safety throughout our facility; allowing our team to focus our energy and talent on providing quality high quality early childhood learning experiences for our students, while providing peace of mind and support to their families and continuing to allow Educare West DuPage to utilize existing funding so that children and families reach their highest potential," said  Educare West DuPage Executive Director Marcela G. Sweeney.

"Affordable housing is a racial justice issue which the Here to Stay Community Land Trust addresses by stopping the displacement of longtime community members due to gentrification. We are extremely grateful to Congresswoman Ramirez for her tireless support of Here to Stay, and we ask the Appropriations Committee to deliver these funds to support our working families who want stable, affordable housing in the neighborhoods they've called home for generations," said Here to Stay Community Land Trust  Program Director, Kristin Horne.

"The Chicago Park District is deeply appreciative to Congresswoman Delia Ramirez for considering the Chicago Park District's Humboldt Park Accessibility ADA Project as part of her FY2024 Community Project Funding requests," said Chicago Park District Superintendent & CEO Rosa Escareño. "Accessibility to Chicago parks’ extraordinary amenities, and recreational and cultural experiences is an extremely important matter to us and park patrons of all ages and abilities. This funding is crucial to aiding in making vital improvements to Humboldt Park's historic grounds, and eliminating safety hazards as well as ensuring a safe, welcoming, and accessible pathway system for all to enjoy outdoor activities in our beloved urban landscape." 

“On behalf of the 89,000 residents of Addison Township, and the hundreds of thousands of motorists who traverse the Kingery Highway, I want to express our sincere appreciation and thanks to Congresswoman Delia Ramirez and her Chief of Staff Fae Rabin. Their quick action to cut through the federal bureaucracy and facilitate the Kingery Road project is greatly appreciated,” said Addison Township Highway Commissioner Donald R. Holod. “Congresswoman Ramirez and her team’s passionate pursuit of providing a positive impact for our historically underrepresented community’s economic development, roadway safety and environmental sustainability for generations to come is sincerely appreciated. Thanks again to Congresswoman Ramirez!”

"LUCHA is incredibly grateful to Congresswoman Ramirez for her support of our project.  The Appropriations Committee delivering the necessary funding for this project in the FY24 budget will allow LUCHA to build out a community center and office that will be a keystone project in Humboldt Park.  It will be a place for gathering and will allow LUCHA to continue its work of fighting the displacement of families and individuals who have long called this community home,” said Lisette Castañeda, LUCHA Executive Director. 

“We would like to thank Congresswoman Delia Ramirez for sponsoring the Naperville Road and Route 38 Intersection Improvement Project as one of her Community Project Funding Submissions for FY 2024. This heavily traveled and congested intersection (with up to 32,000 vehicles daily) is experiencing a high number of accidents and increased carbon dioxide emissions. The benefits of the proposed improvements would include enhanced safety for motorists and pedestrians, improved traffic flow, decreased travel times and less carbon dioxide emissions. We appreciate the Congresswoman’s support to protect the health and safety of our community,” said DuPage County Board Chair Deborah A. Conroy.

“Walkable, safe, and inviting streets are essential to fostering community and growth along our commercial corridors,” said Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) Commissioner Gia Biagi. “Thanks to Congresswoman Ramirez for her support of CDOT’s North Avenue Streetscape project, which will create a more pedestrian-friendly street and support economic activity in Humboldt Park.”

“We greatly appreciate Congresswoman Ramirez’s support of Pace’s efforts to innovate and improve the public transit service we provide to her district’s residents. If the funding submitted for FY24 becomes law, Pace’s project will create transit signal priority (TSP) along Harlem Avenue, which will be one of our next Pulse rapid transit lines. TSP makes transit more reliable and more attractive by giving buses an advantage over regular auto traffic. In essence, transit signal priority puts the “rapid” in “rapid transit”—and thus is a key element to making Pace service faster. Because Pace and our sister agencies in northeastern Illinois are facing a “fiscal cliff” in 2026, we need to take advantage of every opportunity to make our operations more efficient and equitable by enhancing service within our limited budget. This proposed funding from Congresswoman Ramirez does just that—offers benefits to transit riders in this area while actually saving Pace operating funding,” said Melinda J. Metzger, Executive Director of Pace Suburban Bus.

"As the access route to both the Village’s residential areas and our expansive Business Park, the Tonne Road corridor is crucial to our local economy and daily lives. By eliminating the conflicting turn movements between trucks and passenger vehicles and introducing a multi-use trail, we will not only improve safety but also enhance the connectivity of our bicycle and pedestrian network. I want to sincerely thank Congresswoman Ramirez for recognizing the urgency of these improvements and including our project in the funding request to the House Appropriations Committee. We hope that the Committee recognizes its importance and delivers the necessary funding in the FY24 budgetso we can commence construction in the Spring of 2025,” said Elk Grove Village Mayor Craig Johnson.

“The Village of Franklin Park would like to thank the Appropriations Committee and Congresswoman Delia Ramirez for financial assistance for the Washington Street Improvements Project. The impacts of this project will modernize Washington Street while improving the quality of life of residents through the removal of lead service lines and a substandard water main. Your support is critical in providing Franklin Park families with access to clean water. I look forward to building upon our continued partnership,” said Village of Franklin Park Mayor Barrett Pedersen.

"The grade separation on York Road at the Metra/Canadian Pacific Railroad tracks will allow us to provide our residents, small business owners, emergency responders, and anyone traveling through Bensenville piece of mind that they won’t be subject to long delays as we estimate 300% more trains due to the CPKCS merger," said Bensenville Village President Frank DeSimone. "We are grateful to Congresswoman Ramirez for selecting this project, and we urge the Appropriations Committee to quickly move this critical funding forward.”

BACKGROUND:

The Office of Congresswoman Ramirez submitted to the House Appropriations Committee the maximum number of Community Project Funding requests allowed for consideration under the Fiscal Year 2024 appropriations process. 

These requests do not guarantee that the projects will receive the funding. The House Appropriations Committee, which is currently under  Republican Majority, will review each request and decide whether it will be included in a final spending agreement that must then be included in a final spending package that can pass out of both chambers of  Congress and be signed into law by the President.

The following 15 projects were submitted for review for the FY24 Appropriations Bills:

Affordable Housing Development Project, Village of Glen Ellyn

Requested Funding Level: $750,000

If awarded, funding would be used to facilitate demolition and site remediation necessary to create space for an affordable housing development. A financial disclosure and federal nexus letter can be found here.

Blackwell Forest Preserve Cenacle Bridge Project,Forest Preserve District of DuPage County

Requested Funding Level: $300,000

If awarded, funding would be used to support replacing a deteriorating bridge structure in order to improve connection and access to trails within the forest preserve for residents and visitors. A financial disclosure and federal nexus letter can be found here. 

Creating a Welcoming and Healthy Community for Families in Chicago's Belmont Cragin,Onward Neighborhood House

Requested Funding Level: $3,000,000

If awarded, funding would be used to expand the space needed to scale up the food pantry in response to increased food insecurity. A financial disclosure and federal nexus letter can be found here.

Elmwood Grand Senior Apartments Project, Village of Elmwood Park

Requested Funding Level: $1,900,000

If awarded, funding would be used for a new 38-unit affordable senior housing development. A financial disclosure and federal nexus letter can be found here.

Enhanced Safety Project, Educare West DuPage

Requested Funding Level: $161,250

If awarded, funding would be used for necessary security and safety enhancements where families are entering and exiting the early childhood education program with their young children. Safety improvements include replacing deteriorated pavement, exterior lighting, and gates into the playground. A financial disclosure and federal nexus letter can be found here.

Here to Stay Community Land Trust Project,Here to Stay Community Land Trust

Requested Funding Level: $1,000,000

If awarded, funding would be used to create permanently affordable homes to mitigate the displacement of long-time community members by increasing access to affordable homeownership. A financial disclosure and federal nexus letter can be found here. 

Humboldt Park Accessibility ADA Project, Chicago Park DistrictRequested Funding Level: $1,000,000

If awarded, funding would be used to make accessibility improvements to Humboldt Park by repairing potholes, eliminating water issues that create safety hazards, and ensuring a safe, accessible pathway system throughout Humboldt Park for all residents. A financial disclosure and federal nexus letter can be found here. 

Kingery Highway Accessible Frontage Roads Resurfacing and Manhole Replacement, Addison TownshipRequested Funding Level: $1,400,000

If awarded, funding would be used for resurfacing more than 3,000 feet for two roads, providing ingress and egress accessibility to Kingery Highway. A financial disclosure and federal nexus letter can be found here.

LUCHA New Office Phase 1 Project,Latin United Community House Association (LUCHA)Requested Funding Level: $2,000,000

If awarded, funding would be used to revitalize a vacant building to be used by LUCHA to carry out housing services for low- and moderate-income households. A financial disclosure and federal nexus letter can be found here.

Naperville Road at IL-38 Intersection Improvement Project, DuPage County Board 

Requested Funding Level: $1,000,000

If awarded, funding would address daily traffic congestion and improve road safety by establishing additional turn lanes, modernizing traffic signals, and improving ADA accessibility of pedestrian facilities. A financial disclosure and federal nexus letter can be found here.

North Avenue Streetscape from Central Park Avenue to Cicero Avenue,City of Chicago

Requested Funding Level: $2,000,000

If awarded, funding would be used to make safety traffic, bicycle, and pedestrian safety improvements. Improvements include full-width street resurfacing and base repair, drainage improvements, new sidewalks, ADA ramps, crosswalks, new lighting, new curbs and gutters, pavement markings, and traffic signal modernization. A financial disclosure and federal nexus letter can be found here. 

Pace Harlem Avenue Transit Signal Priority Project, Pace Suburban Bus Division of the Regional Transportation Authority

Requested Funding Level: $840,000

If awarded, funding would be used to implement transit signal improvements on Harlem Avenue between Irving Park Road and North Avenue, a corridor with one of the heaviest bus ridership rates in Cook County, Illinois. These transit signal improvements would facilitate shorter travel times for bus riders. A financial disclosure and federal nexus letter can be found here.

Tonne Road Reconstruction, Village of Elk GroveRequested Funding Level: $13,050,000

If awarded, funding would be used to eliminate conflicting turn movements between trucks and passenger vehicles while increasing the utility of the boulevard to include the multi-use trail, completing a major gap in the Village of Elk Grove's planned bicycle and pedestrian network. A financial disclosure and federal nexus letter can be found here.

Washington Street Improvements Plan, Village of Franklin ParkRequested Funding Level: $751,779

If awarded, funding would be used to replace 20 lead service lines for residential drinking water in the Village of Franklin Park. A financial disclosure and federal nexus letter can be found here. 

York Road at Canadian Pacific Rail Road Grade Separation Project, Village of BensenvilleRequested Funding Level: $1,000,000

If awarded, funding would be used to grade separate York Road at the Metra/Canadian Pacific Railroad tracks. The Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern merger will add 300% more trains through the Village and block all of the Village's crossings. The proposed grade separation would help mitigate the merger's impact on the motoring public, small businesses, and emergency responders. A financial disclosure and federal nexus letter can be found here. 

Original source can be found here.