Public Disclosures
Transparency
All fiscal year 2024 requests for Community Project Funding submitted by Congresswoman Barbara Lee to the House Committee on Appropriations will be posted below for public disclosure purposes. Only pubic or non-profit entities are eligible for Community Project Funding. In compliance with House Rules and Committee requirements, Congresswoman Barbara Lee has certified that she, her spouse, and her immediate family have no financial interest in any of the projects she has requested.
Agriculture - Agricultural Research Service, Buildings and Facilities
Project Title: Modernization of the USDA's Western Regional Research Center
Requestor: Western Regional Research Center
Location: Albany, CA
Project Summary: The USDA's Agricultural Research Service (ARS) owns and operates the Western Regional Research Center (WRRC), a world-class laboratory facility in Albany, CA. WRRC has a rich history of scientific achievement and garnered multiple research accolades, including twice being named as a National Historical Chemical Landmark by the American Chemical Society for pioneering research achievements. However, the Albany location was established in 1939 and, despite modernization upgrades over the past decades, there are sections of the facility that are badly in need of major repairs, renovation, or replacement. Most notably, the air handling/ heating systems are in dire need of an upgrade; specifically, most of the facility has had limited temperature control for the entire winter due to outdated air handling systems to deliver heat.
The Western Regional Research Center requests modernization of our heating infrastructure to ensure that the high-impact research carried out in this ARS-owned location can continue. Research includes addressing food safety, improving crop sustainability, and maintaining economic advantages, with examples such as improving the nutritional value and taste of processed foods, developing American-grown rubber with input from the major tire companies, inventing sustainable (jet) fuel from crops, and finding ways to ensure that bees are healthy and available to pollinate crops.
Grant Amount Requested: $3,110,990 Million
CJS – Justice Assistance Grants (“Byrne Grants”)
Project Title: Peralta Community College District Community Policing, Enhancement, and Training Program project
Requestor: Peralta Community College District
Project Summary: This funding would allow Peralta Community College District (PCCD) to implement a program that improves public safety and community policing. The funding would be used to support expanded training and education, implementation of behavioral intervention teams, and development of public safety models to better serve its community and serve as a model for other entities.
Grant Amount Requested: $850,000
CJS – Justice Assistance Grants (“Byrne Grants”)
Project Title: Live Free USA
Requestor: Live Free USA
Project Summary: The aim of his project is to enhance the Community Violence Intervention (CVI) sector by establishing staffing and resource infrastructure and intermediary capacity within LIVE FREE organizations and partners who are dedicated to promoting racial equity and rethinking public safety. Similar to what Living Cities (then NCDI) achieved for the Affordable Housing & Community Development sector thirty years ago, the goal is to expand the grassroots infrastructure necessary for implementing community-based public safety solutions. The project seeks to transform the narrative about gun violence across various sectors and communities by involving young storytellers and culture makers to highlight peace-driven non-police interventions instead of limiting strategies to police-only or defunding the police. The project also intends to create and evaluate effective models where the community is empowered to lead violence prevention and intervention efforts, with the goal of decreasing and eradicating gun violence in black and brown communities.
Grant Amount Requested: $500,000
CJS – Justice Assistance Grants (“Byrne Grants”)
Project Title: Oakland Chinatown Ambassador Program
Requestor: Oakland Chinatown Chamber Foundation
Location: Oakland, CA
Project Summary: Oakland Chinatown Chamber of Commerce (OCCC) and the Oakland Chinatown Chamber Foundation (OCCF), as the fiscal agent, are applying for a Byrne Justice grant to expand our work to keep Asians safe. Our proposal will 1) expand our outreach services in Oakland and surrounding communities to educate people about crime and prevention, 2) take a community-centered approach to enhance safety in Oakland Chinatown for residents, merchants, and visitors, 3) provide navigational services to Asian crime victims.
Grant Amount Requested: $400,000
CJS – Justice Assistance Grants (“Byrne Grants”)
Project Title: City of Alameda Community Assessment Response & Engagement Team (CARE Team)
Requestor: City of Alameda
Project Summary: The City is requesting $2,264,000 for its Community Assessment Response & Engagement Team (CARE Team). In response to serious community concerns about police interactions with individuals experiencing a mental health crisis, the City, working with the community and local stakeholders, evaluated various models for alternatives to police response to mental health emergencies. The CARE Team model was created out of these discussions. The City is requesting funding for this alternative policing program, which combines first responders with behavioral services to ensure the City is appropriately and safely responding to these complex encounters.
Grant Amount Requested: $ 2,264,000
Projected Sub-Committee + Line-Item: DOJ – Byrne Justice
CJS – Community Oriented Policing Services
Project Title: Cyber Security Enhancements to Public Safety Systems
Requestor: City of Oakland
Project Summary: After the recent cybersecurity breach, the City of Oakland is requesting assistance with the Oakland public safety systems. As it currently operates, the public safety systems depend on the City's core network switching and routing infrastructure for all computer connectivity, including Internet, Wi-Fi, and connections to internal servers and systems. Their project would upgrade the core network will provide more reliable and resilient access and enable the Oakland Police Department to better perform duties that depend on access to automated systems and technologies.
Grant Amount Requested: $1,400,000
Energy and Water - Army Corp of Engineers General
Project Title: East Bayshore Recycled Water Project: Oakland-Alameda Estuary Crossing Pipeline project
Requestor: EBMUD
Project Summary: The Oakland-Alameda Estuary Crossing Pipeline is the next phase of the East Bayshore Recycled Water Project, part of EBMUD’s comprehensive Integrated Recycled Water Program (IRWP). EBMUD secured a congressional authorization in 2007 of $25 million for the IRWP. This request is to draw down funds ($1 million) for the Oakland-Alameda Estuary Crossing Pipeline from the existing WRDA authorization to cover the pre-design and related administration costs that are planned for FY 2024.
Grant Amount Requested: $2,500,500 Million
Energy and Water - Army Corp of Engineers General
Project Title: Middle Harbor Project
Requestor: Bay Conservation Development Commission
Project Summary: Oakland Harbor is a busy container port located in Oakland, California. In 2000-2010, the harbor was deepened to accommodate larger shipping vessels, which generated a significant amount of sediment. The US Army Corps of Engineers and the Port of Oakland committed to using the dredged sediment for wetland restoration projects, including the Middle Harbor Enhancement Project, which aimed to raise subtidal habitat and restore eelgrass beds. The project also addressed community needs for shoreline access and created bird roosting islands and a sandy beach. However, the project remains incomplete due to a lack of federal funding. The USACE is requesting $9 million to complete the eelgrass planting, repair the public beach, sculpt the site, and plant the educational marsh, and monitor the site for adaptive management
Grant Amount Requested: $8 Million
Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies – Clean Water State Revolving Fund
Project Title: Lake Merritt Water Quality Management Plan Development and Implementation - Healthy Lake Initiative
Requestor: City of Oakland
Project Summary: The City of Oakland is requesting a STAG grant due to the urgent habitation and ecosystem issues at Lake Merritt. The project is going to develop and implement strategies to control excessive algae growth and low dissolved oxygen (DO) concentrations in Lake Merritt to ensure aquatic wildlife survival, ecosystem balance, and comply with state and federal regulations by installing devices and water quality monitoring program.
Grant Amount Requested: $1 Million
THUD – HUD Economic Development Initiatives
Project Title: The Oscar Grant Youth Power Zone and KOO Labs Design Center and Production House
Requestor: Communities United for Restorative Youth Justice (CURYJ)
Project Summary: Communities United for Restorative Youth Justice and Kingmakers of Oakland are submitting a joint proposal to acquire and develop two properties – one in East Oakland and one in West Oakland – to serve as community-led economic and leadership development hubs for Black and brown youth and young adults, local communities, and national audiences.
Grant Amount Requested: $6 Million
THUD – HUD Economic Development Initiatives
Project Title: Oakland & the World Enterprises Community Economic Development Project
Requestor: Oakland and the World Enterprises
Project Summary: The Oakland & the World Enterprises (OAW) has created a groundbreaking model for community economic development that is poised to transform the Lower Bottoms community of West Oakland. By launching businesses in depressed areas, OAW aims to spur economic growth, reduce crime, and recidivism. OAW's innovative approach includes financing the launch of four businesses which will be located in four commercial spaces on the ground floor of our three-quarter-acre development on the corner of 7th & Campbell Streets. OAW will provide all necessary resources, including infrastructure, furniture, equipment, supplies, technical support, job training, marketing, and promotion, to ensure the long-term success of each business.
This funding is focused on construction and capital costs for each business, creating opportunities for residents to shop, eat and work. By supporting OAW's model, taxpayer funds will see a significant return on investment. The businesses established in the depressed community will not only meet the needs of local residents and provide jobs but also improve the overall business climate and neighborhood infrastructure. Overall, OAW's community economic development model offers a promising pathway to stimulate economic growth, create new jobs, and enhance the quality of life in depressed areas. We are confident that our approach grounded in the needs of local community members will open doors for community economic development through business development.
Grant Amount Requested: $3,000,000
THUD – HUD Economic Development Initiatives
Project Title: San Leandro Navigation Center and Permanent Supportive Housing Project
Requestor: City of San Leandro
Project Summary: The San Leandro Navigation Center and Permanent Supportive Housing project will provide shelter and drop in and shelter resident services for homeless or chronically under-sheltered individuals. Multiservice providers will perform eligibility assessments on site and connect those individuals with health, and wellness services, substance abuse services, and intensive case management services. Longer term, the navigation center/shelter will be converted to a permanent supportive housing development for the homeless.
The city would acquire and renovate the site at 555 Lewelling Boulevard in the city. Following acquisition and conversion, the city would maintain 29 units of transitional housing.
Grant Amount Requested: $ 2,893,946
THUD – HUD Economic Development Initiatives
Project Title: Infrastructure and Perimeter Fence Project at Oakland Parks, Children's Fairyland
Requestor: Children’s Fairyland
Project Summary: Children's Fairyland is proposing a comprehensive overhaul of the park's water, sewer, gas, and electrical systems to improve energy efficiency, operating costs, and ensure a safe and reliable environment for visitors. The outdated infrastructure is causing frequent disruptions and poses health and safety risks to visitors. The proposed upgrade will require collaboration from various City of Oakland departments, civic leaders, and neighboring communities. Additionally, the park plans to install a new 10-foot-tall steel fence to improve safety and limit the hazards of the current fence line, which will include both pedestrian and vehicle gates.
Grant Amount Requested: $1,530,000 Million
Projected Sub-Committee + Line-Item: THUD – EDI
THUD – Transit Infrastructure Projects
Project Title: 40th Street Protected Bikeway and Multimodal Improvements Project
Requestor: City of Emeryville
Project Summary: The City of Emeryville is requesting assistance with the 40th Street Transit-Only Lanes and Multimodal Enhancements Project in Emeryville. The project is currently in the PS&E phase, with funding from Measure BB and ATP Cycle 5. The project aims to enhance transportation connections and is seeking additional funding for the construction phase. A feasibility and traffic study will be conducted, along with community advisory committee reviews and stakeholder outreach. The project is expected to be ready for listing/advertising in Spring 2024 and construction to be completed by Summer 2025. The City is actively seeking funding to support the Construction Phase, having secured nearly 75% of needed funds and to meet our aggressive timeline.
Grant Amount Requested: $2 Million
THUD – Transit Infrastructure Projects
Project Title: East Oakland Maintenance Facility Safety Upgrade
Requestor: AC Transit
Location: East Oakland, CA
Project Summary: Requested funds will be used to install hydrogen sensing technology and safety equipment at the Central Maintenance Facility (CMF) in East Oakland, which is needed to safely perform maintenance on Fuel Cell Electric Buses. AC Transit's CMF is currently designed for the maintenance of soon-to-be-outdated diesel engine buses. This upgrade will assist in meeting the transit needs of the historically marginalized community.
Grant Amount Requested: $2 Million