The U.S. House of Representatives is once again allowing members of Congress to recommend specific projects in our communities for direct funding through federal appropriations. Each member of Congress is permitted to request up to fifteen Community Project Funding (“CPF”) requests as we have in years past. The process is largely similar to FY24 and continues to reflect the priorities of the House Majority.
Our FY25 Community Project Funding request form is now closed.
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For Fiscal Year 2025, the following projects were submitted by our office and chosen by the House Appropriations Committee for inclusion in the Omnibus Appropriations Bill.
Four Seasons Park Revitalization (City of Chester, PA): $600,000.00
Delaware County District Attorney's Office
201 West Front Street
Media, PA 19063
Project Address:
Pennell Street & Woodrow Street
City of Chester, PA
The Delaware County District Attorney's office will use $600,000.00 to rehabilitate Four Seasons Park, decreasing crime and contributing to the economic revitalization of an underserved part of the City of Chester.
In 2020, the District Attorney formed the Chester Partnership for Safe Neighborhoods (CPSN) to reduce the violence that had plagued its residents for years. Among the initiatives undertaken by CPSN to address gun violence is an effort to improve the physical environment in the City of Chester. As part of this effort, CPSN has put forward plans to renovate Four Seasons Park. The park has become a popular area for criminal activity. However, with the use of CPF funding, this park will provide youth in the city access to a new, well-designed play and gathering space, instead of being a hotspot for criminal activity.
The requested amount of $600,000.00 will be used to install new lighting, improve critical infrastructure such as drainage, redesign and rebuild the park infrastructure, and install a new covered pavilion for community gatherings.
Delaware County Community College Workforce Success Center: $2,000,000.00
Delaware County Community College
901 S. Media Line Road
Media, PA 19063
Project Address:
403 N Lansdowne Avenue
Drexel Hill, PA 19026
Delaware County Community College (DCCC) will use $2,000,000.00 to construct a Workforce Success Center location to train students and incumbent workers in high-priority occupations and skilled trades.
DCCC will transform the former Archbishop Prendergast High School into a comprehensive multi-use facility providing affordable, quality education and training to area residents. The new Southeast Campus will include new computer and science labs, academic and career programs, comprehensive student advising and counseling support services, and a learning commons offering library services, writing workshops, and tutoring services. Additionally, a Center for Workforce Development and Community Success will serve as a hub of innovation for workforce training and will feature biotechnology and electronics labs alongside a
student resource center.
The requested $2,000,000.00 will be used to construct workforce development training classrooms and laboratories, provide signage, and fund general site and structural improvements of the facility.
Schoolyard Improvements at Penrose Elementary: $579,100.00
The School District of Philadelphia
440 N Broad Street
Philadelphia, PA 19130
Project Location:
Penrose Elementary School
2515 South 78th Street
Philadelphia, PA, 19153
The School District of Philadelphia will use $579,100.00 to construct an interactive, multi-purpose outdoor playground at Penrose School, which will benefit the surrounding community economically and healthily.
The project benefits low- and moderate-income students and families of the Penrose School community and the surrounding neighborhoods. Recent studies show that early childhood play on outdoor structures improves gross and fine motor skills, and environmental greening has been linked to better health outcomes in children. In a mixed-income community directly affected by the opioid epidemic and gun violence, opportunities for better life and mental health outcomes for students and neighbors are invaluable. The outdoor schoolyard improvements will enhance the educational experiences of its students and improve the well-being of all community members.
The requested amount of $579,100.00 will promote and support healthy lifestyles and learning experiences by installing artificial turf, a new play structure and safety surface, a basketball court, and landscape greening.
Sharon Hill Library and Recreation Center: $2,000,000.00
Borough of Sharon Hill
250 Sharon Avenue
Sharon Hill, PA 19079
The Borough of Sharon Hill will use $2,000,000.00 to construct a new public library and recreation center at their revamped municipal complex, providing vital library services and space for workforce development programming.
Sharon Hill Borough is a growing town of 6,014 residents. With the steady increase of its residential and business communities, the borough has identified a need to increase its capacity to serve its growing economy. Currently, the borough lacks a recreation center and has an outdated library unsuited to meet its residents' needs. The project is a priority for the community due to substantial building and environmental concerns stemming from the site's outdated and underutilized existing structures. Due to aging infrastructure and poor architectural design, each facility fails to meet building code compliance and baseline service delivery standards, underscoring the need for Federal funds.
The requested $2,000,000 will be used on both the initial design phases and the final construction of the library and recreation center, which includes acquiring building materials, capital improvement, and building construction.
SR420Amtrak Early Advance Warning System: $425,000.00
Prospect Park Borough
720 Maryland Avenue
Prospect Park, PA 19076
Project Address:
Maryland Avenue & SR420 Lincoln Avenue
Prospect Park, PA 19076
Prospect Park Borough will use $425,000.00 to retrofit an AMTRAK/SEPTA rail line overpass at Moore Station in Prospect Park, PA, to reduce traffic accidents and bridge collisions.
The overpass on State Route 420 has restricted-height signage that is often ignored, resulting in collisions between trucks and the bridge structure. Collisions with the outside girder require road closure until the area is cleared and AMTRAK officials inspect the structure to determine if the bridge is safe. This often results in Borough Emergency Services being required on-site instead of normal lifesaving functions. Businesses that line Lincoln /Avenue are impacted by traffic backups from the closure, and neighborhood residential streets are inconvenienced by a steady stream of detoured traffic.
The requested $425,000.00 will provide additional warning signalization in advance of the bridge. The Borough will also install detectors in a location that initiates flashers to warn oncoming drivers if their vehicle is over the height limit. This will allow overheight vehicles the opportunity to redirect to an alternate route to avoid the overpass, reducing accidents.
Taxiway Rehabilitation at Philadelphia International Airport: $2,000,000.00
City of Philadelphia - Department of Aviation
2 International Plaza
Suite 400
Philadelphia, PA 19113
Project Address:
Philadelphia International Airport
8000 Essington Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19153
The City of Philadelphia - Department of Aviation will use $2,000,000.00 to rehabilitate Taxiway P at Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) to expand airport capacity.
The existing pavement at Taxiway P is beyond its service life and exhibits signs of severe pavement distress. Updates to the taxiway are necessary to meet current FAA standards and remove barriers to safe flight for pilots. Taxiway P's rehabilitation will enhance the safety and efficiency of aircraft operations at PHL, one of the nation's largest and most heavily trafficked airports, allowing for greater thoroughfare and operational efficiency. This project rehabilitates the taxiway to provide a safe and operational pavement surface for current and future traffic for the next 20 years.
In addition to pavement improvements, the $2,000,000.00 will be used to replace aging airfield lighting and signage elements with energy-efficient LEDs, upgrade drainage infrastructure, and evaluate options to improve the resiliency of the drainage infrastructure.
Delaware County Client Advocates Program: $901,603.00
County of Delaware
201 W. Front Street
Media, PA 19063
The County of Delaware will use $901,603.00 to expand upon the work of the County Public Defender’s Office (DCPDO) through its partnership with Partners for Justice (PFJ).
In 2021, DCPDO launched a two-year pilot program with PFJ to connect low-income people facing criminal charges with legal services. The goal was to reduce reliance on the County's jail and foster opportunity, safety, and economic mobility. The project has enjoyed success since its inception, and additional client advocates and resources are now necessary to continue building upon its progress.
The requested $901,603 will allow the county to continue this program for two more years, funding five client advocates, their services, and programming support.
Norristown Public Library Renovation: $2,000,000.00
Montgomery County
425 Swede Street
Norristown PA 19401
Project Address:
Norristown Public Library
1001 Powell Street
Norristown PA 19401
Montgomery County will use $2,000,000.00 to fund the rehabilitation of the Norristown Public Library in Norristown, PA.
Built in 1977, the Montgomery County-Norristown Public Library has not undergone any substantial renovation in forty-seven years. This has resulted in mechanical failures, sewer failures, extensive water infiltration, and code non-compliance. Years of neglect have left the building in need of a complete roof replacement and repairs to the facade and grounds. Additionally, recent rounds of community engagement have highlighted the need for a space to house housing insecurity services in Montgomery County - the renovated library would host such services.
Non-functional and outdated facilities undermine the library’s potential impact. The additional square footage will supply space for county social service agencies to provide the support that this population needs. Specifically, the requested $2,000,000.00 will be used to design, acquire materials for, and retrofit the existing library to provide standard library services and housing support services.
Third Street Pedestrian and Bicycle Bridge: $500,000.00
Media Borough
301 North Jackson Street
2nd Floor
Media, PA 19063
Project Address:
Third Street
Media, PA 19063
Media Borough will use the requested $500,000.00 to remove a breached earthen dam over Broomall’s run and reconnect Third Street by constructing a multi-modal pedestrian bridge.
The Third Street Pedestrian and Bicycle Bridge is a once-in-a-generation community development project that will transform the local region. It serves as a vital connection between Media Borough and Upper Providence Township, which has been closed for decades, fostering accessibility, connectivity, and safety for residents and visitors alike. This multi-modal active transportation project will also generate positive environmental and economic benefits, which include greater access to Downtown Media businesses and stream restoration.
Media Borough will use the requested $500,000 to fund remaining design costs, including finalizing and obtaining environmental permits, acquiring any temporary construction easements required to construct the project, performing the final design of the pedestrian bridge and shared-use trail, completing the final construction-ready specifications, and covering construction services and inspection contracts.
Chester Township Fire Company Health and Safety Renovations: $500,000.00
Township of Chester
1150 Engle Street
Chester, PA 19013
Project Address:
Chester Township Fire Company
2410 Concord Road
Chester, PA 19013
The Township of Chester, in conjunction with Chester Township Fire Company, will use $500,000.00 to provide necessary upgrades to improve health and safety at their local firehouse.
As the only firehouse within the Township, the Chester Township Fire Company fills a safety void within Chester and the region. Providing an adequate headquarters for the volunteer staff is paramount to continuing service and attracting new members. Attracting and retaining new members will improve service levels, response rates, and public safety.
Chester Township will use the requested $500,000.00 to renovate the Fire House. The upgrades will include renovated living quarters and captains’ offices, a new exhaust system, a new roof, and a specialized washer and dryer for firefighting gear.
Providence Road Sidewalk Improvement Project (Walkable Wallingford): $1,000,000.00
Nether Providence Township
214 Sykes Lane
Wallingford, PA 19086
Project Address:
State Road Providence Road
Nether Providence, PA 19086
Nether Providence Township will use $1,000,000.00 to install sidewalks along State Road Providence Road, spanning from Copples Lane to Waterford Way, in an effort to decrease pedestrian traffic accidents.
This funding will significantly enhance student pedestrian safety, foster a safer environment for active transportation, and help promote foot traffic for local businesses and visitors. This aligns with the Township's broader objective of enhancing pedestrian safety and accessibility, particularly for students attending Strath Haven Middle School, Strath Haven High School, and St. John's Elementary School.
The requested $1,000,000 will be used on sidewalk construction, right-of-way acquisition, and engineering design.
Improvements to Montgomery Park: $490,336.19
Borough of Folcroft
1555 Elmwood Avenue
Folcroft, PA 19032
Project Address:
Montgomery Park
Taylor Drive
Folcroft, PA 19032
The Borough of Folcroft will use $490,336.19 to revitalize Montgomery Park, reimagining a beloved green space to better service the economic and social needs of the community.
The Borough has identified Montgomery Park as a cornerstone of the borough community. Through this funding, the borough will work on Phase 3 of the Montgomery Park Improvements, which consists of constructing a permeable pavement parking lot. The current parking lot for the park is 11,070 square feet of impervious asphalt and has 38 standard parking spaces and two handicap spaces - all of which are inadequate for this growing borough.
The requested $490,336.19 would be used to remove the impervious lot and install a 20,700-square-foot permeable pavement parking lot, which would allow for up to 8,280 cubic feet of stormwater storage. This would allow for greater access to and use of Montgomery Park, prevent intermittent flooding, and save taxpayer dollars currently being spent on triage for park facilities.
Villanova University Legal Support Clinic: $850,000.00
Villanova University
800 Lancaster Avenue
Villanova PA, 19085
Villanova University will use $850,000.00 to fund and expand its Legal Support Clinic, providing economic opportunity and legal counsel to a larger number of incarcerated individuals.
The Clinical Program at Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law is grounded in Augustinian values and a commitment to social justice. The eight law school clinics provide legal representation to low-income individuals while training law students to become competent, reflective, ethical, and creative lawyers committed to seeking justice. The Civil Justice Clinic (CJC) focuses on domestic violence survivors as clients and represents survivors in various civil and family matters. The Caritas Clemency Clinic (CCC) represents incarcerated individuals with an extraordinary and compelling reason to warrant release to their families.
This requested $850,000.00 will support expanding legal services representatives for the CJC and the CCC and reduce recidivism by funding additional services to individuals leaving federal custody.
Springfield Corridor Infrastructure and Safety Upgrades: $3,000,000.00
Clifton Heights Borough
30 South Springfield Road
Clifton Heights, PA 19018
Project Address:
498-456 N Springfield Rd
Clifton Heights, PA 19018
Clifton Heights Borough will use $3,000,000.00 to complete infrastructure and safety upgrades to improve traffic and stormwater management along the Springfield corridor.
Nearly 1,500 children use the Springfield corridor daily on foot and in regular motorized traffic. The corridor requires the addition of storm inlets and outflow for new school and parking areas. The increased storm inlets and curbing will channel water and provide a safe passageway for children, parents, and pedestrians using the corridor. During the stormwater construction phase, these funds will also be used to provide curbing and sidewalks with corner handicap walkways, enhancing thoroughfare safety for pedestrians walking to school and the downtown business areas.
The requested $3,000,000.00 will improve safety along the Springfield Road Corridor, address intersection infrastructure deficiencies, and improve land use functionality.
City of Chester Police Department Technology Upgrades: $450,000.00
City of Chester
1 Fourth Street
Chester, PA 19013
The City of Chester will use $450,000.00 to install license plate recognition (LPR) cameras throughout the city in an effort to decrease vehicle-related crime.
Chester is a small city that strives to ensure the safety of its residents, business population, and visitors. However, it suffers from a high crime rate and difficulty generating independent revenue to support crime deterrence. Chester has experienced a significant increase in visitors seeking to patronize recreational and entertainment venues. Additionally, the revitalization of properties in Chester has resulted in a high volume of illegal dumping of construction waste, demolition waste, and old vehicle tires. These changes in visitors and illicit dumping have increased the crime risk to residents with insufficient police patrol to deter or address criminal and traffic-related incidents.
The requested $450,000.00 will be used to install 14 license plate readers (LPRs) at hot spot entry and exit points throughout the city. The funding will be used primarily for LPR cameras, camera monitoring software, and installation costs.
To protect against any appearance of self-dealing, Congresswoman Scanlon submitted written certification to the Committee that neither she nor her family had any financial interest in any project submitted. Click here for copies of those disclosure letters.
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For Fiscal Year 2024, the following projects were submitted by our office and chosen by the House Appropriations Committee for inclusion in the Omnibus Appropriations Bill.
City of Philadelphia Flood Risk Reduction in Eastwick (Eastwick, PA): $1,383,069
City of Philadelphia
1515 Arch Street, 13th Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19102
Project Address:
Eastwick
Philadelphia, PA 19153
The City of Philadelphia will use the requested $2,000,000.00 to implement near-term flood risk reduction measures in the Eastwick neighborhood. This includes funding community engagement and empowerment efforts to build Eastwick’s community capacity while the city develops a long-term flood resilience strategy.
Eastwick faces a complex array of challenges rooted in its historical and social context. Redevelopment in the mid-20th century transformed Eastwick into a place of aggravated environmental risk by constructing low-lying housing units over contaminated soils. Episodes of flooding were then accompanied by exposure to toxins, in addition to damage to property and infrastructure. More frequent and intense storms continue to put this neighborhood at greater and greater risk of flooding events. Despite years of government study and evaluation, the community of Eastwick has yet to receive any flood risk reduction or protection. The City of Philadelphia would use the requested funds to implement a flood barrier near the confluence of the Cobbs and Darby Creeks to reduce riverine flood risk at the most flood-prone portion of Eastwick. This, in turn, will minimize resident exposure to environmental toxins and property damage.
Darby Borough Sanitary Sewer Improvements (Darby, PA): $657,026
Darby Borough
1020 Ridge Avenue
Darby, PA 19023
Project Address:
100-300 blocks of Fern Street
Darby, PA 19023
Darby Borough will use the requested $657,025.60 to replace a sanitary sewer collection system on Fern Street, between Fourth Street and Damon’s Lane. Sewer replacement is an extraordinary undertaking for older communities, especially those in low-to-moderate income brackets. Defective sewers result in backups into residences and overflows, which are punishable by financial penalties for polluting the waters of the Commonwealth. Additionally, broken and leaky systems permit infiltration into the sewer during wet weather events, resulting in additional expenses further down the line. The Fern St. area has the worst identified sanitary sewer condition throughout the Darby Borough collection system. By using this funding to replace the system, the borough will protect groundwater reserves and improve the health of nearby bodies of water, such as Cobbs Creek. This effort is essential to safeguarding the health of residents and ensuring a stable and resilient waste system for the entire area.
East Lansdowne Borough Sanitary Sewer Collection System Replacement (East Lansdowne, PA): $959,752
East Lansdowne Borough
155 Lexington Avenue
East Lansdowne, PA 19050
Project Address:
400-1000 blocks of Baltimore Avenue
East Lansdowne, PA 19050
East Lansdowne Borough will use the requested $1,484,384 to replace a sanitary sewer collection system on Baltimore Ave. Sewer replacement is difficult for older, smaller communities like East Lansdowne. Defective sewers result in backups into residences and overflows, which are punishable by financial penalties for polluting the waters of the Commonwealth. Additionally, broken and leaky systems permit infiltration into the sewer during wet weather events, resulting in surcharges at the treatment plant.
Baltimore Ave is a state highway with residences and businesses connected to the sewer system from side streets. Maintenance on the line has been a consistent financial burden for the borough. By providing CPF funding, the borough can make the critical changes necessary to protect the health of residents and nearby businesses and save money for the borough and taxpayers.
Christ Lutheran Community Church (CLCC) Childcare Enhancements (Upper Darby, PA): $500,000
Christ Lutheran Community Church
7240 Walnut Street
Upper Darby, PA 19082
Christ Lutheran Community Church (CLCC) proposes to add a free, high-quality afterschool program for children and youth (K-12) administered by Sunrise of Philadelphia, a secular, non-profit out-of-school (OST) resource provider. These funds will be used to renovate CLCC childcare facilities to meet state childcare licensing requirements. There is a critical need for additional services to support children, youth, and families in Upper Darby, PA. More than one-quarter of children under 18 are living below the federal poverty level. Among schools in the immediate vicinity of CLCC, English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics proficiency among students lags considerably below the state averages, with less than 10% of students in the middle and elementary schools proficient in Mathematics.
A 2021 analysis conducted by the Pennsylvania Joint State Government Commission determined that every $1 invested in high-quality afterschool programs returned $6.69 of potential societal benefits. The analysis identified specific positive academic outcomes for students, including improved school attendance, engagement, improved test scores, and grades. The $2,000,000 includes environmental study, certificates, permits and fees (130k), a sprinkler design, a new water system and installation (887k), fire alarm design, installation, and modifications (75k), ADA-compliant room renovations and modifications (335K), HVAC, electrical and plumbing improvements (365k) and commercial kitchen renovations including commercial grade appliances and equipment (208k).
Norristown Family Residence Restoration in Norristown, PA - $1,000,000
The Salvation Army in Eastern Pennsylvania and Delaware
701 N Broad Street
Philadelphia, PA 19123
Project Address:
533 Swede Street
Norristown, PA 19401
The Norristown Family Residence, operated by the Salvation Army in Eastern Pennsylvania and Delaware, serves as a refuge for those struggling with housing and food insecurity. The requested amount of $1,355,000.00 will be used to renovate and restore the century-old shelter to enhance its housing and community programs.
The building housing these vital services has fallen into disrepair, and the long-deferred maintenance is now an imminent and critical need. The shelter processed 639 cases of persons facing housing insecurity and housed 383 people in 2022. The facility also serves as Montgomery County’s Code Blue shelter for the Norristown area and has a food pantry that serves over 100 families each month. The Norristown Corps is committed to ensuring that families have safe, secure housing where they can get help with their immediate needs. These renovations will allow the residence to meet the needs of those living and working there more adequately. Improvements to bathroom facilities, increased energy efficiency and associated cost savings from new windows and doors, and general abatement of hazardous materials will allow the shelter to better serve residents.
Francis J. Myers Recreation Center Athletic Fields Renovation (Philadelphia, PA): $500,000
City of Philadelphia
1515 Arch Street
Philadelphia, PA 19102
Project Address:
5801 Kingsessing Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19143
The Francis J. Myers Recreation Center is an important community space in the Kingsessing neighborhood of Southwest Philadelphia. However, years of underinvestment have left the center and its athletic fields in a state of disrepair. The City of Philadelphia’s Rebuilding Community Infrastructure initiative (Rebuild) is working with the Kingsessing community to rehabilitate the center’s recreation building, playground, and basketball and tennis courts. But, because of budget constraints, Rebuild was unable to include the center’s athletic fields in the original project scope. With this federal funding, the Francis J. Myers Recreation Center Athletic Fields Renovation project will construct a new multi-purpose athletic field, renovate an existing baseball field, install lighting, and make irrigation and stormwater improvements. These new athletic fields will provide a safe place for children and youth to play outdoors and participate in team sports.
FDR Park Community Access Improvements (Philadelphia, PA): $850,000
Fairmount Park Conservancy
Ohio House, 4700 States Drive
Philadelphia, PA 19131
Project Address:
FDR Park
1500 Pattison Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19145
The 348-acre FDR Park in South Philadelphia is one of the most frequently visited sites in the entire Philadelphia park system. Located by the end of the Broad Street Subway Line, three major sports stadiums, and the rapidly growing Navy Yard, FDR Park draws millions of annual visitors from across the greater Philadelphia area. In 2019, Fairmount Park Conservancy, in partnership with Philadelphia Parks & Recreation, local design firm WRT, and the Friends of FDR Park, completed an 18-month planning process to develop the FDR Park Plan. These organizations engaged 10 City agencies, 20 stakeholder organizations, and nearly 3,000 South Philadelphia residents in the process, producing a plan to rehabilitate and renew the park. The plan has already received over $20 million from the City of Philadelphia, and the plan's Phase 1 projects are currently under construction.
This Community Project Funding request will be used to begin construction of Phase 2 projects, specifically reinstalling basketball courts that were removed in the 1980s and constructing family gathering sites. These sites include a playground, spray ground, games plaza, and tables, benches, pergolas, and other shelters. These additions were the top two write-in requests expressed by the public during the planning process. This project will provide children and families with new places to play and spend time together while incentivizing park visitors to extend their stay.
ACLAMO Community Center Renovation and Accessibility Modification (Norristown, PA): $1,000,000
ACLAMO
512 W Marshall Street
Norristown, PA 19401
Project Address:
801 W Marshall Street
Norristown, PA 19401
ACLAMO is the only organization in Montgomery County that is focused on meeting the needs of low-income, at-risk Latinos with a full range of social services. Using a mix of donations and federal funds, ACLAMO recently purchased a property to develop into a community center that will provide youth education and workforce development programs, a food pantry, and a health and wellness center. This Community Project Funding request will support the completion of the center’s needed renovations by removing architectural structures that restrict the mobility and accessibility of older adults and people with disabilities; installing ramps, lifts, and an elevator; installing a sprinkler system; and repairing and weatherizing damaged architectural features. These renovations will make the new community center ADA accessible and bring the center into compliance with fire and occupancy codes.
Navy Yard Lift Bridge Rehabilitation (Philadelphia, PA): $1,666,279
Philadelphia Authority for Industrial Development
4501 South Broad Street
Philadelphia, PA 19112
Project Address:
26th Street Lift Bridge
Philadelphia, PA 19145
The 26th Street Lift Bridge is one of the main access points to the Philadelphia Navy Yard. The bridge sees over 5,000 unique trips weekly and connects thousands of workers to jobs at some of Philadelphia’s largest employers. Additionally, the bridge provides water access to the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, which is the Navy's East Coast Naval Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility. The bridge has experienced multiple failures that disrupt transportation access and marine operations, causing traffic backups at shift changes and stranding vessels inside and outside the Reserve Basin. This Community Project Funding request will repair the structural, mechanical, and electrical systems needed to bring the bridge into a state of good repair.
City of Philadelphia Group Violence Intervention (GVI) Program Expansion (Philadelphia, PA): $615,000
City of Philadelphia - Office of Violence Prevention
1401 John F. Kennedy Boulevard, Suite 1430 Philadelphia, PA 19102
The City of Philadelphia began implementing its Group Violence Intervention (GVI) strategy in August 2020. The strategy aims to reduce shootings and homicides among high-risk individuals and groups while recognizing that a disproportionately small number of people commit the majority of gun violence.
In February 2023, the University of Pennsylvania concluded an independent evaluation of the City’s strategy which found in part that “once a group-unit received GVI treatment, on average, it experienced a significant 38.6% reduction in shootings per week. Notably, receiving 2 doses of treatment relative to 0 doses of treatment produced a significant 50.3% reduction in shootings per week for a group-unit.” The study also surveyed Mobile Call-In Team (MCIT) participants and GVI clients, all of whom noted the positive secondary impacts of collaboration between the community and law enforcement.
The City of Philadelphia's Group Violence Intervention Program Expansion project would enable the City to hire additional staff and leverage its existing Social Service Unit Structure to assign those staff geographically throughout Philadelphia, with a focus on areas most impacted by gun violence. Geographically assigned staff would be responsible for individual case management and community outreach. Their responsibilities would include developing a comprehensive list of resources within their assigned area including education, housing, mental health, and employment-focused resources.
Family Support Line of Delaware County Law Enforcement Vicarious Trauma Reduction Pilot Program (Delaware County, PA): $300,000
Family Support Line of Delaware County, Inc.
100 W. 6th Street, Suite 1, Media, PA 19063
Family Support Line (FSL) addresses the needs of sexually abused children by working collaboratively with over 60 agencies in Delaware County, including all 47 law enforcement agencies and 6 victim services agencies. Over the past few years, FSL has experienced a significant increase in demand for services for children who have been victims of sexual abuse, commercial exploitation, and witness to violent crime. Law enforcement officers (LEOs), social workers, therapists, and case managers can experience vicarious trauma from working with these child victims, which often leads to compassion fatigue, burnout, secondary trauma stress, diminished concentration, cynicism, pessimism, and more. As the number of cases of sexual violence towards children increases, inevitably, vicarious trauma does as well.
The Reducing Law Enforcement Vicarious Trauma through a Pilot Training and Prevention Program project aims to combat vicarious trauma by training LEOs, social workers, therapists, and case managers on how to gather minimal facts for referring victims to services, lessening their exposure to secondary trauma; reducing the number of victims by providing county-wide evidence-based sexual abuse prevention training programs directly to children, parents, and caregivers; providing psychosocial life skill classes and activities for at-risk children; and providing training on self-care to lessen the effects of vicarious trauma, particularly for LEOs.
Eddystone Police Department Improving Police Accountability Project (Eddystone, PA): $100,000
Eddystone Police Department
1300 East 12th Street. Eddystone, PA 19022
The Eddystone Police Department, the first borough department in Delaware County, PA to be accredited by the Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Association, is tasked with providing effective, fair, and professional law enforcement services to the community of Eddystone Borough, PA.
In pursuit of further bolstering its service to the public, the Improving Police Accountability in Eddystone Borough project would assist the Eddystone Police Department in purchasing and developing a body-worn camera program for its officers and upgrading its record management system.
Mirmont Treatment Center Certified Recovery Specialist Mobile Team (Media, PA): $560,000
Mirmont Treatment Center
100 Yearsley Mill Road, Media, PA 19063
Mirmont Treatment Center, part of Main Line Health, has been providing treatment to patients struggling with substance use disorders and/or mental health disorders. This project will fund a Certified Recovery Specialist mobile team to work with emergency personnel in Delaware County to connect individuals to resources and to eliminate barriers to an individual accessing care for their substance use or mental health needs. This program aims to improve access to and coverage of services and supports in the community and to implement care delivery models that recognize the unique needs of individuals struggling with substance use disorders. With this mobile program, Mirmont Treatment Center (MTC) intends to attract and provide access to services to those in the Delaware County community.
With this funding, MTC plans to employ a team of four Certified Recovery Specialists (CRS) and two case managers to deploy out in the community to screen and assess patients for substance abuse and mental health disorders. These screenings and assessments reduce barriers to accessing care in their community based on their needs, whether it be at the detox and residential levels of care or at the outpatient level of care. The case management team would work with the identified patients ensuring they stay connected to services to help provide more successful outcomes. Additionally, because Mirmont Treatment Center is part of a larger healthcare system, the connections and referral relationships are already established, allowing for the implementation of this program to be smoother and more effective.
Grace Manor Housing Development (Chester, PA): $1,000,000
Grace Manor Housing Development
1 Fourth Street, Chester, PA 19013
Project Address:
2900 West 7th Street, Chester, PA 19013
The Grace Manor housing development is in the City of Chester on the site of the former Pulaski School that had been abandoned for over 20 years. The Chester Economic Development Authority (CEDA) was able to remediate and demolish the structure leaving a two-acre vacant parcel. The Chester Community Improvement Project (CCIP) was selected as a developer based on their decades of affordable housing production experience, their expertise in housing counseling, and their commitment to the community.
Grace Manor will consist of approximately 20 homes constructed in at least two phases; the first phase for which funding is requested consists of 10 units. The units will be priced affordably for households at or below 80% of the area median income.
In addition to offering a newly constructed quality home that cannot be found on the private market, Grace Manor will also include energy efficiency features that will reduce ongoing operating costs.
Grace Manor is part of a larger revitalization effort to address neighborhood conditions and make connections to the Chester waterfront. The new housing will complement the recently completed ACCESS Community Center as well as a façade improvement project that will address the exterior condition of adjacent homeownership properties.
Project funds will be used to bridge the gap between total development costs and the market values at which these homes can be sold. Infrastructure costs, including separating combined stormwater and sanitary sewer lines, increase project costs well beyond the amount of HOME funds allocated to Chester. As such, CEDA is requesting support to assist development.
Upper Chichester Library and Community Resource Center (Upper Chichester, PA): $500,000
Upper Chichester Library
3374 Chichester Avenue Suite #19, Upper Chichester, PA, 19061
Project Address:
Kingsman Road, Upper Chichester, PA, 19061
This funding will be used to build an Upper Chichester Library and Community Resource Center. For the past 22 years, the library has served more than 25,000 patrons a year while operating from its tiny, 1,500-square-foot home in a strip mall. It is the only library serving Upper Chichester Township’s 17,000 residents and 400 businesses. The current space is inadequate and forces the library to regularly turn away those wishing to participate in its popular programs. The current Upper Chichester Library is already a significant staple in the community; however, the new Upper Chichester Library and Community Resource Center will improve the township’s civic, cultural, and recreational facilities in several critical ways.
The new building will be fully ADA-compliant, allowing all visitors to access the center’s resources and programs. The new library will be a state-of-the-art building with a large children’s area and three study rooms to serve the community’s youth. It will be situated in the center of town, walkable from schools, businesses, apartment communities, and senior living communities. Its designated location is a park-like atmosphere with a playground and outdoor pavilion for all to enjoy. The new library will also have an immense impact on the Chichester School District. The library is open after the school libraries have closed, on weekends, and all summer to provide children with books and resources. Library staff help students with homework and projects and teach children to read, write, use computers, apply for jobs, and much more.
The library is a safe haven for students after school, and the new building will be able to accommodate more patrons. The Upper Chichester Library and Community Resource Center will be a central gathering place and hub of learning for the local community. It will create jobs to support its expanded hours and services and boost the local economy by attracting additional visitors to the area.
To protect against any appearance of self-dealing, Congresswoman Scanlon submitted written certification to the Committee that neither she nor her family had any financial interest in any project submitted. Click here for copies of those disclosure letters.
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For Fiscal Year 2023, the following projects were submitted by our office and chosen by the House Appropriations Committee for inclusion in the Omnibus Appropriations Bill.
The Africa Center (Philadelphia, PA): $2,000,000
African Cultural Alliance of North America, Inc.
5530 Chester Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19143
Project Address:
5432-36 Chester Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19143
The African Cultural Alliance of North America (ACANA) is a non-profit organization in Southwest Philadelphia that aids immigrants, refugees, and asylees in their resettlement and adjustment process. The Africa Center will be a multi-use building that will be a new anchor of economic and community development in Southwest Philadelphia. The building will accommodate a community center, pre-school, retail spaces, and health services offices and is expected to serve members of the African diaspora and communities in the Southwest Philadelphia, Greater Philadelphia, and Delaware Counties.
Decades of disinvestment in the communities surrounding the center have made it difficult to attract private capital to reverse the decline in its economic well-being and quality of life. The Africa Center, an approximately 41,000 square feet ground-up construction, is expected to spur economic development and attract new families into the community. The building will also be a critical space for welcoming and servicing new Americans immigrating to the area.
Access Community Center (Chester, PA): $850,000
A Community Center Established by the Surgent Family for Society
2820 W 7th Street
Chester, PA 19013
A Community Center Established by the Surgent Family for Society (ACCESS), in partnership with the City of Chester, will use this CPF grant to construct a community center that will be a complete, ground-up construction on the former site of the athletic fields of the Pulaski School.
The deterioration of the Pulaski School and its athletic fields has had a rippling effect on the surrounding residential neighborhood. As the school fell into disrepair, it became blighted and a site for illegal dumping. Members of the community have asked the City of Chester to take action on the site, and its redevelopment is a main priority of the city’s comprehensive plan, Chester Vision 2020. The ACCESS Community Center will meet this community goal, providing Chester residents with spaces for meeting and recreation, as well as programming for children, adults, and seniors.
Navy Yard - Quay Wall Reconstruction (Philadelphia, PA): $2,000,000
City of Philadelphia
1400 JFK Boulevard
Philadelphia, PA 19107
Project Address:
4500 S Broad Street
Philadelphia, PA 19112
The Quay Wall Reconstruction Project is an $18 million effort by the City of Philadelphia to make critical repairs and upgrades to the portion of Broad Street that connects the city with the Navy Yard, a vibrant area of the city that has become a hub for life sciences, emerging businesses and new hospitality and residential development. The 734-foot section of Broad Street linking the city center to the Navy Yard is constructed on a 120-year-old timber bridge structure that is original to the Navy Yard, and that structure has deteriorated substantially. With funds provided by this CPF request, the City will close its remaining funding gap and move forward with the project. The project will restore all four lanes of traffic on this section of roadway, along with sidewalks and bike lanes, and install streetscape amenities. The completed project will support multi modal transportation and access to the new jobs and workforce training being created at the Navy Yard.
Prison-to-Community Workforce Development Initiative (Media, PA): $1,988,635
County of Delaware
201 W. Front Street, Room 202, Media, PA 19063
Project Address:
George W. Hill Correctional Facility
500 Cheyney Road
Thornton, PA 19373
In April 2022, Delaware County reasserted public control of operations of the only Pennsylvania county prison being run by a for-profit entity, George W. Hill Correctional Facility. The county has the goal of promoting the public interest by reducing recidivism and promoting rehabilitation and opportunities for inmates. Delaware County’s Prison-to-Community Workforce Development Initiative will establish two programs at the prison that will provide direct employment training and support services to justice-impacted people.
The County will partner with two successful existing nonprofit reentry programs to offer skills-based career training services that begin during incarceration and follow individuals upon their release. They will connect individuals to in-community, fair-wage, paid internships and ongoing job and life skills support with community partners who are prepared to work with this population's unique needs. One program, New Leash on Life USA, pairs participants with rescue dogs to teach animal training and caretaking skills. The other program provides skill certification and horticultural training in landscaping through the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS) and Temple University’s Branching Up program.
Both programs incorporate life skills training into their career-building curriculums to provide incarcerated persons with the tools necessary to obtain work, engage in positive workplace relationships, comply with criminal supervision requirements, navigate transportation, responsibly manage wages, and continue with positive trajectories in their communities. This behind-and-beyond-the-bars model empowers participants with life-long skills while permitting them to demonstrate success in the community through supported internships and individualized plans. These programs will reduce recidivism, increase job placement and retention, improve the carceral environment, and create healthier communities.
Delaware County Health Department Health Equity Resource Improvement Initiative (Media, PA): $1,750,000
County of Delaware
201 W. Front Street, Room 202
Media, PA 19063
In April 2022, the Delaware County Health Department (DCHD) received approval to establish a county health department in the largest county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania that did not provide such critical public services. To meet the challenge of establishing and providing comprehensive public health services, the Department needs to invest in additional equipment and technology. The funds awarded through this CPF will allow the health department to enhance core services and reach by implementing a comprehensive electronic health records system, improving the quality and diversity of diagnostic and treatment services available in its new mobile health unit, and purchasing lead screening equipment to combat high rates of lead toxicity among county residents.
Haverford Township Free Library Redevelopment (Havertown, PA): $2,000,000
Haverford Township
1014 Darby Road
Havertown, PA 19083
Project Address:
Haverford Township Free Library
1601 Darby Rd
Havertown, PA 19083
Haverford Township, in Delaware County, provides public library services at the Haverford Township Free Library. Unfortunately, the current library is both undersized and underdeveloped, which limits services to not only the Haverford Township community but also the larger regional community of over 180,000 visitors per year.
Using funds provided by this CPF request, Haverford Township will be able to bring its library into the 21st century, expanding the quality and range of services it provides to better serve the ever-changing demographics and needs of the residents of Haverford Township and surrounding communities. The redeveloped library will feature a range of amenities, including a sensory room for the those with autism or other development challenges; a maker space/innovation zone that will support STEM education, workforce development, and entrepreneurship; a youth services floor to build out a safe space for teens and tweens who are looking for books, programs, and a place to study and gather after school; and a dedicated senior space with resources and programs geared toward community and lifelong learning.
Helping Babies, Bellies, and Bottoms Program (Aston, PA): $50,000
Individuals Aiding in Emergencies Foundation
2 New Road
Aston, PA 19014
The Individuals Aiding in Emergencies (IAE) Foundation is located in Aston, Delaware County, Pennsylvania. Its mission is to provide essential hygiene products to individuals and families impacted by events resulting in hardship, loss, or suffering. By collaborating with and assisting local organizations--such as county agencies, food pantries, and other nonprofits--IAF bridges gaps in resources and makes real quality of life improvements for the individuals it serves.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, IAE Foundation launched its Helping, Babies, Bellies, and Bottoms Program, which distributed diapers to as many babies and children in need as possible. The program grew and now provides baby diapers, menstrual products, and incontinence products to partner organizations serving their communities. Using the funds awarded through their CPF request, IAE Foundation intends to open the first diaper bank in Delaware County.
Riddle Hospital ICU/Critical Nursing Unit Construction/Equipment (Radnor, PA): $1,000,000
Main Line Health
240 N Radnor Chester Road
Radnor, PA 19087
Project Address:
Riddle Hospital
1068 W. Baltimore Pike
Media, PA 19063
The funding will assist Riddle Hospital in renovating and improving its ICU and Critical Care Nursing Unit. It is part of Riddle Hospital’s Campus Master Plan that will mark the most significant facility improvement in its existence and is among the largest capital investments in Main Line Health history. Once completed in 2024, the hospital will be equipped with all private patient rooms, contemporary facilities, and advanced technology to support the evolving needs of the community.
The community served by Riddle Hospital is quickly aging. The 65+ population within our surrounding neighborhoods is projected to grow by more than 20% in the years ahead. While the Baby Boom generation is healthier than those before, the oldest members of this generation are beginning to see their needs for healthcare increase and a large threshold will hit that need all at once.
Riddle Hospital provides inpatient and outpatient services to a 21% minority population. Main Line Health is committed to enhancing the health status of the communities we serve, with increased focus on vulnerable and high-risk populations. By creating innovative programs that have a lasting impact on the communities we serve, and by meeting people where they live, work, play and pray, together we are creating a culture of health for generations.
Southwest Philadelphia Birth Center (Philadelphia, PA): $1,000,000
Resources for Human Development’s Family Practice and Counseling Network
6100 Woodland Ave
Philadelphia PA 19142
Resources for Human Development (RHD) is a nonprofit organization with more than 50 years of experience providing a variety of programs, with particular emphasis on serving populations with mental illness, substance use disorders, developmental disabilities, and homelessness. Family Practice and Counseling Network (FPCN), a program of RHD, is a network of federally qualified community health centers that uses a nurse-managed, integrated model to deliver primary care, behavioral health, dental, and preventive services, which are co-located at the centers and are designed to holistically treat patients.
FPCN will use community project funds to improve childbirth and maternal health outcomes in the Philadelphia area by building and opening Philadelphia’s only birth center. The birth center will offer comprehensive midwifery-led reproductive care (including prenatal) and labor and delivery options for women and families who face poor maternal outcomes and high rates of maternal mortality. CPF funds will allow RHD to renovate and outfit the three birthing suites, which will help improve maternal outcomes and revolutionize childbirth and maternal healthcare in an area of great need.
Schuylkill River Trail: Bartram's to Passyunk Phase II Land Acquisition (Philadelphia, PA): $2,000,000
Schuylkill River Development Corporation
2401 Walnut Street, Suite 603
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Project Address:
6035 W Passyunk Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19153
The Schuylkill River Development Corporation (SRDC) is a nonprofit organization working with the City of Philadelphia to revitalize the tidal Schuylkill River corridor into an asset that connects diverse communities to each other and the river. The centerpiece of this effort is the construction, programming, and maintenance of a continuous eight-mile riverfront trail and greenway with associated access points and amenities along the tidal river branded as Schuylkill Banks.
Schuylkill Banks, the southernmost eight miles of the Schuylkill River Trail and part of the Circuit Trails, is a vital recreation and transportation asset used by thousands of individuals each week to safely connect to their destinations and participate in healthy living activities. The completed trail segments improve the quality of life for neighbors, encourage additional investment in the surrounding communities, and are an environmental resource. With the CPF grant, SRDC will acquire the land needed to build a public trail and greenway along approximately 3,400 feet of the tidal Schuylkill River in Southwest Philadelphia and within an area that has not seen this type of investment in decades.
Senior Community Services Schoolhouse Capital Improvements (Folsom, PA): $2,000,000
Senior Community Services
600 Swarthmore Avenue
Folsom, PA 19033
Senior Community Services (SCS) promotes independent and meaningful living for older adults in Delaware County through direct services and programs in the home and community. Formed in 1977, SCS started as one small center in Darby Township and has grown into a vital, respected community organization that serves a diverse community of more than 20,000 older residents of PA-05 annually.
SCSs include four nationally-accredited Senior Centers that nurture active older adults through a host of programs such as meal delivery, learning centers, long-term care management, caregiver support, medicare navigation support, aging at home programs that preserve the independence and maintain dignity for seniors, a cognitive stimulation program that loans brain fitness kits; and a robust Volunteer Program enlisting more than 400 volunteers who provide 42,000 hours of service.
Senior Community Services (SCS) will use a Community Project Fund grant to renovate and expand Schoolhouse Center, the oldest building in the agency’s real estate portfolio and a critical piece of the agency’s infrastructure, adding an elevator and additional space for activities and programs within the agency’s flagship senior center, which already consistently attracts the greatest annual attendance, houses a kitchen that produces hundreds of meals per day for onsite service and delivery to frail seniors, and contains the agency’s executive offices. This capital improvement project will solidify Schoolhouse Center’s role as a safe and trusted pillar in Greater Ridley.
Delaware County Food Bank Acquisition and Renovation (Holmes, PA): $2,000,000
Share Food Program
101 Amosland Road
Holmes, PA 19043
Recent data indicates that ten percent of Delaware County’s population lives below the federal poverty line. This means that over 50,000 residents are experiencing food insecurity. Given this need, the Share Food Program (“Share”) was selected last year by the Delaware County Department of Human Services to establish a Delaware County Food Bank. Share works with numerous community partners to provide nutritious food to residents facing food insecurity and has recently acquired an 8,000-square-foot, centrally-located warehouse in Holmes, Ridley Township, to carry out its mission.
Share Food Program’s Delaware County Food Bank Acquisition and Renovation Project will support the building out of additional warehouse space so Share can better meet its operational capabilities and ensure that individuals and families struggling with food insecurity have access to the nutritious food they need. Investment in the Delaware County Food Bank’s infrastructure will go toward ensuring that food distribution reaches all 49 municipalities in the county, supporting equitable food access and strengthened capacity in all the county’s pantries, increasing outreach to community members facing food insecurity, and establishing a home food delivery program to those that are homebound.
MusicMan Butterfly Buddy Program Project (Drexel Hill, PA): $115,000
Upper Darby Arts & Education Foundation
1051 Pontiac Road, #707
Drexel Hill, PA 19026
Upper Darby Arts & Education Foundation (UDAEF) works to enhance educational and cultural opportunities for students in Upper Darby School District, one of the largest and most diverse school districts in the Commonwealth. In July of 2021, UDAEF launched the MusicMan Butterfly Buddy Program, a creative arts camp that brings together therapists, music educators, special education teachers, and students with disabilities to celebrate, succeed, and grow through music and movement.
The program incorporates a strengths-based approach that reinforces and enhances social communication, motor, and cognitive skills with an emphasis on enrichment and fun through creative arts participation. All participants are guided by certified and registered music, art, and dance therapists as well as certified music educators. Sessions have included an inclusive choir where participants and their buddies learn songs as peer partners, creating “family culture” with music, ‘Ukes and You,’ ‘Dynamic Drumming,’ and ‘Mindful Movement’ which uses a colorful parachute and yoga stretching for calming the mind.
Funding from the MusicMan Butterfly Buddy Program Project will allow for the continuation of this program and make it more accessible by allowing children within Upper Darby School District to attend free of charge, offering subsidized transportation opportunities for participants, expanding the program beyond the summer months, and increasing capacity to welcome participants throughout the special needs population. This funding will have a long-lasting impact on the lives of children and families in the community, as creative arts not only provide therapeutic benefits for the neurodiverse, but also helps children develop interpersonal skills, unveil new talents, build confidence, and foster lasting friendships.
Media VFW Post Maintenance (Media, PA): $50,000
Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3460
11 Hilltop Road
Media, PA 19063
The Media VFW Post 3460 was chartered in 1936 to provide a welcoming, therapeutic, and safe atmosphere for returning veterans and their families and friends. Since then, the Post has provided services to veterans of World War I and II, Korea, Vietnam, Desert Storm, Afghanistan, Iraq, and more. The Post sponsors blood drives, Patriot's Pen essay contests, and Little LeagueTeams, and provides community outreach for various needs, volunteering hundreds of man-hours and tens of thousands of dollars in donations. The Post serves as a meeting place for our veterans, as well as an affordable venue for community gatherings like birthdays, graduation parties, and group dinners.
To stay open, Post 3460 is in need of major repairs, including repairs to its parking lot, fencing, and plumbing. Using funds provided by this CPF request, the project will resurface and recontour the post’s damaged parking lot, completely redo its exterior fencing, and make necessary fixes to the property’s plumbing system.
Lansdowne Y Swimming Pool Rehabilitation (Lansdowne, PA): $1,500,000
YMCA of Eastern Delaware County
2110 Garrett Road
Lansdowne, PA 19050
The Lansdowne Y has served the Delaware County community, and specifically Upper Darby and Lansdowne families, for more than sixty years. Throughout that time, it’s been a place where countless kids learn to swim, go to summer camp, and attend early learning programs, as well as where older adults can safely access water and exercise classes. Importantly, as a part of its children’s swimming lessons, instructors at the Lansdowne Y emphasize critical skills such as water safety and self-rescue.
The Lansdowne facility’s pool area has been minimally updated since it was built in 1964, and as a result, many of its systems and structures are outdated and inefficient. The YMCA of Eastern Delaware County’s Lansdowne Y Swimming Pool Rehabilitation Project will make much-needed updates to this important community space, including upgrades to HVAC and ventilation to improve energy efficiency and air quality, pool water filtration, piping, and water heating systems to improve energy efficiency, and pool lights to improve safety. It will also be used to shallow the deep end of the pool to increase the usable swim lesson teaching area. In rehabilitating its pool, the Lansdowne Y will be able to increase its capacity to provide water classes, including life-saving water safety instruction, and recreation to tens of thousands of local children and adults each year. This project will ensure that the Y continues to be a safe place for recreation and a cornerstone of the local community for generations to come.
To protect against any appearance of self-dealing, Congresswoman Scanlon submitted written certification to the Committee that neither she nor her family had any financial interest in any project submitted. Click here for copies of those disclosure letters.
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For Fiscal Year 2022, the following projects were submitted by our office and chosen by the House Appropriations Committee for inclusion in the Omnibus Appropriations Bill.
Medical Facility Expansion Project to Improve Opioid Use Disorder and Mental Health Treatments in an Underserved Community (Chester, PA): $1,000,000
AIDS Care Group
2304 Edgmont Avenue
Chester, PA 19013
Delaware County has one of Pennsylvania's highest instances of STDs and opioid use disorders. It ranks third out of the commonwealth's sixty-seven counties in its number of cumulative cases of HIV. The City of Chester, within Delaware County, has been designated as a medically underserved area by the federal government since 1975. The city is currently seeing a rise in STDs, hepatitis C, opioid use disorders, mental health disorders, and HIV/AIDS among its population. In part, the rise in HIV/AIDS is connected to the opioid addiction crisis, as intravenous drug use increases risk for getting or passing on viral infections including HIV and AIDS.
AIDS Care Group is a community-based provider dedicated to combatting Chester's HIV/AIDS crisis since 1998. This project will help the organization modernize and scale up its original medical care facility in Chester to create a clinical center for opioid use disorder treatment and mental health services. This capital expansion will allow the organization to expand clinical services to chronically underserved populations in Chester and the surrounding communities that need treatment for opioid use disorders. An expanded facility will enable AIDS Care Group to offer desperately needed on-site services, such as medication-assisted treatment, psychological services, and medical treatment.
Community Partnering Program (Media, PA): $475,000
Delaware County
Government Center
201 W. Front Street
Media, PA 19063
The Delaware County Community Partnering Program (CPP) will empower neighborhoods and build community. Likened to the local government version of Kickstarter, this proven model of local investment provides a platform for neighborhood groups to develop, resources, and execute small projects and initiatives that build trust, create capacity, and empower residents. Projects are generated by neighborhood residents and community groups, and can include (but are not limited to) community gardens, pocket parks, bicycle facilities, pedestrian enhancements, elder transport coordination, snow removal for physically restricted persons, or education initiatives such as energy awareness school programs. The CPP is specifically designed to provide outreach to historically underserved communities who have borne the burden of disinvestment for many decades. The program lowers the barriers to accessing community-based improvements and places a high value on participation from residents who would have more agency in local decisions. Through this program, residents of our neighborhoods can work together to take ownership of and enhance the places where they live, work, and play through their participation in locally developed and executed projects.
Community Watershed Education and Freshwater Mussel Hatchery at Bartram's Garden on the Tidal Schuylkill River (Philadelphia, PA): $925,000
John Bartram Association (DBA Bartram's Garden)
5400 Lindberg Blvd.
Philadelphia, PA 19143
Decades of racist municipal and corporate disinvestment and industrial use perpetrated generations of environmental and health inequities and effectively barred the largely Black neighborhoods in Southwest Philadelphia from accessing the local Schuylkill River. In 2019, a series of community meetings identified community stewardship, STEM-based youth-enrichment opportunities, and watershed health as neighborhood priorities as residents grapple with the long-term economic and health impacts of industrialization and environmental injustice.
Since 2015, Bartram's Garden, a non-profit organization in SW Philly, has invested in free recreation and environmental remediation to increase access to the Schuylkill. Since then, more than 20,000 residents have enjoyed river access; recreation like boating, fishing, and birdwatching; and engagement with environmental education and environmental restoration. The Community Project Funding will allow construction of a watershed education center and a production hatchery for native freshwater mussels, which serve as natural water filters. With more than $4 million already committed towards its design and construction, the CPF funds will allow the project to be completed and help this community access a beautiful natural treasure.
Darby Free Library Restoration & Resilience Initiative (Darby, PA): $981,562
Darby Library Company
1001 Main St.
PO Box 164
Darby, PA 19023
The Darby Free Library, established in 1743, is the oldest library providing continuous service in the country. A recent inspection, however, revealed that the library needs urgent structural repair to its brick masonry and foundation. This Community Funding Project grant request aims to create a resilient public building that can better serve its community members by renovating this historic structure to meet modern standards. The funding would be used to lower operating costs by installing the energy efficient solar panels, make the library accessible to disabled patrons and repair the failing roof and gutters.
Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the Darby Library has remained fully open to the public – with strict CDC guidelines in place - and is the only library within Delaware County system to do so. This decision was made because Darby Library patrons need more than just books. The Darby Library offers the only free access to computers, printers and internet in the community. These resources are used daily to connect residents to information such as employment opportunities, government assistance programs, email, and homework - all of which are nearly impossible to complete on a smartphone. The library is located within walking distance of four schools and provides a safe and inclusive environment for community members both young and old.
F. Amedee Bregy Schoolyard Improvement Project (Philadelphia, PA): $425,000
The Trust for Public Land
1608 Walnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Project Address:
The F. Amedee Bregy School
1700 Bigler St.
Philadelphia, PA 19145
The Trust for Public Land, in conjunction with F. Amedee Bregy School, plans to transform a paved, asphalt schoolyard that increases urban heat, flooding, and safety concerns into a climate resilient, community space. The Trust for Public Land engaged students, faculty, families, and the community to envision how this expansive, but neglected, public schoolyard could be reimagined as a park and play space. The Trust then incorporated this input into a concept design for a new community and educational park that would include play equipment, basketball courts, seating, shading, an outdoor classroom, and new greenery.
F. Amedee Bregy School’s student population, which is 100% economically disadvantaged and 85% students of color, represent groups that bear the brunt of the effects of climate change and traditionally have had lower access to play and green space. Close to nine thousand people live within a ten-minute walk of Bregy, and more than a quarter of these nearby households are low-income. These communities, and all of South and Southwest Philadelphia, will benefit from the creation of this essential and accessible public good.
Mobile Crisis Teams (Media, PA): $650,000
Delaware County
Government Center
201 W. Front Street
Media, PA 19063
Delaware County is on the forefront of efforts to address the mental and behavioral health challenges of residents who find themselves in the criminal justice system. The Mobile Crisis Teams would be stationed at the County’s Emergency Services location and be dispatched in conjunction with law enforcement when there is a known or suspected involved person suffering from mental illness. This project will divert these persons into treatment, with a prioritized admission, to properly address their underlying needs. As our national conversation around policing continues, too often a mental health crisis is turned into a law enforcement issue that can have dangerous consequences. This program intends to reverse that trend by providing the community with a mobile crisis team that could quickly and appropriately respond to mental health emergencies.
Philadelphia Navy Yard Workforce Development Initiatives Program (Philadelphia, PA): $525,000
PIDC Community Capital
1500 Market Street, Suite 3500
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19112
Project Address:
4701 Intrepid Ave.
Philadelphia, PA 19112
PIDC Community Capital, a non-profit organization dedicated to fostering job-creating development in Philadelphia, will work with the West Philadelphia Skills Initiative (WPSI) to identify, train, and connect unemployed and underemployed adults to quality wage employment, increasing stability and economic opportunity for working Philadelphians. The collaborative allows PIDC to replicate key aspects of the WPSI’s nationally recognized and proven model to build talent pipelines in adjacent communities, where 95% of participants are connected to employment upon successful completion of the program with an average starting hourly wage of $17.94/hour and an 84% 12-month job retention rate.
PIDC will work with WPSI to create a program at the Navy Yard, a 1,200-acre redeveloped work community hosting 15,000 employees and 170 employers in South Philadelphia. PIDC has identified jobs that are “future proof” and that will not be eliminated by the rapid acceleration of workforce automation due to the impacts of COVID-19 and are in industries that have remained relatively stable during the pandemic. PIDC has developed several workforce solutions that are based on employers' needs in diverse industries including shipbuilding, manufacturing, life sciences, medical services, and facility/grounds maintenance and focused on connecting Philadelphians to quality jobs.
PhilaWorks Workforce Training for Formerly Incarcerated Philadelphians (Philadelphia, PA): $1,000,000
Philadelphia Works, Inc.
1617 John F. Kennedy Boulevard
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Project Address:
3144 Passyunk Ave.
Philadelphia, PA 19145
PhilaWorks will work with CEO Works Philadelphia to train and give job experience to the formerly incarcerated who need a second chance to get back on their feet. This transitional work experience will provide participants with the knowledge, experience, and training necessary to build lasting attachments to the workforce and become permanently employed.
The project will provide 125-150 formerly incarcerated Philadelphians with immediate employment upon release from incarceration working at the site of the now shuttered PES oil refinery in the heart of southwest Philadelphia. The participants will assist with the clearing of the blighted refinery land, performing litter abatement, graffiti removal, and landscaping services to produce a fully green, eco-friendly space. Each day, participants receive feedback on their work performance using CEO’s proprietary performance assessment tool “Passport to Success” to help participants transition back to the world of employment. Participants in this program will have access to employment services and a network for career opportunities such as advanced training and credentialing.
This innovative and evidence-based program transforms a first job out of prison into a practice field for changing habits that would otherwise perpetuate involvement in the justice system. CEO Works model has undergone rigorous evaluation and demonstrate statistically significant impacts on both recidivism and long-term employment. In a randomized control trial evaluation conducted by the independent research firm MDRC, CEO Works was found to reduce rearrests, reconviction, and re-incarceration of recently released individuals by statistically significant margins of 16-25% in the three years following release from prison.
Restoration of the Historic Lansdowne Theater (Lansdowne, PA): $1,500,000
Lansdowne Theater Corporation
31 N. Lansdowne Ave.
Lansdowne, PA 19050
This Community Project Fund grant would be used to rehabilitate the 1927 Lansdowne Theater in Lansdowne, PA into a regional concert hall and spur investment in this historic inner ring suburb just west of Philadelphia. Long suffering the effects of disinvestment, this is the largest economic development project in the community’s history. The $13.5 million of the $15 million needed to complete the project has been raised from individuals, foundations, and local and state sources, showing great community support. With the CPF funds, the project will be ready to start immediately and will implement capital repairs, replacement of mechanical and HVAC systems, roof repairs, restrooms, rainwater runoff system, theater seating, restoration of historic finishes and related equipment, labor and materials within an historic theater and proposed one-story addition.
The project is anticipated to create 51 jobs in the operation of the theater, 100 permanent jobs in businesses nearby in addition to over 100 jobs for the trades during construction. Once completed, the theater will create opportunities for students in the local school district for enhanced educational programs through internships and access to myriad genres of music. This transformational investment is integral to wider commitments among local, county and state government, as well as the area community, to create an anchor to restore, enhance and spur economic activity in this blighted urban commercial corridor surrounded by low-income communities, disproportionately of color.
Upper Darby Community Center Green Roof (Upper Darby, PA): $975,000
Upper Darby Township
100 Garrett Road
Upper Darby, PA 19082
The new Upper Darby Community Center Green Roof will transform a completely paved corner parcel of a densely suburban area into much needed green space. The Community Center, which will host this green roof, is a multi-story structure that will be utilized for recreation, learning, and community events. This center will service residents of all ages within the community and is within walking distance to a large portion of the population. The multi-leveled green roof will be the focal point of the center and will serve as an educational tool, community event space, and climate resiliency project. The first level will include an area for children to learn gardening and basic horticulture. The larger second level will incorporate an outdoor passive recreation and event space. This will include outdoor seating, a council ring fire pit, a stormwater management rain garden, and a shade structure.
To protect against any appearance of self-dealing, Congresswoman Scanlon submitted written certification to the Committee that neither she nor her family had any financial interest in any project submitted. Click here for copies of those disclosure letters.
