Fiscal Year 2027 NY-07 Community Projects
The following Community Project Funding requests for Fiscal Year 2027 have currently been submitted by Rep. Velázquez (NY-07) to the U.S. House Committee on Appropriations. Submission to the committee does not guarantee a project will be funded. Information regarding which requests were selected for funding by the committee will be announced as soon as it is available. The following projects listed below will proceed to the next phase of review.
Click here to view financial disclosures for each project.
- Recipient: University of Puerto Rico-Mayagüez
Project Title:UPRM Center for the use of GenAI for Coastal Zone Monitoring and Assessment
Project Description: The proposed University of Puerto Rico-Mayagüez (UPRM) Center for Generative AI will address current challenges in data integration to develop useful software ecosystems for coastal monitoring. This AI-driven hub will bring together data from multiple available sources (including in situ, remotely sensed and modeled data) and use advanced AI tools to predict weather impacts, ecosystem loss, and related economic risks in vulnerable coastal areas. This hub will help scientists, engineers, urban planners, and policymakers make better decisions for disaster preparedness, restoration of natural barriers, and the creation of sustainable policies. It will also offer an open-source platform for sharing data, making complex research more accessible and supporting community-led action. Overall, the project supports national priorities by balancing environmental protection with economic needs, helping to build a strong and sustainable Blue Economy while protecting coastal communities for the long term.
Request: $1,000,000.00
Account: Department of Commerce – (NOAA) – Operations, Research, and Facilities – Coastal Zone Management
2. Recipient: Research Foundation of CUNY
Project Title: Advancing Parole Excellence (APEX) Initiative
Project Description: The Parole Excellence (APEX) Initiative, launched by the Corrections Lab at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, in partnership with the CUNY School of Law, is a targeted effort to strengthen parole supervision practices, improve service coordination, and enhance public safety outcomes for New Yorkers. Funding will enable the development and deployment of a comprehensive support system for parole officers and the individuals they supervise in Queens and Brooklyn. Central to this effort is the APEX Navigator, an innovative digital platform designed to help frontline parole officers quickly identify and connect people on parole to critical stabilizing resources, including housing, employment opportunities, behavioral health services, and community‑based supports. This tool will streamline referrals, reduce administrative burdens, and ensure that individuals receive timely, appropriate assistance during the most vulnerable phase of reentry. This funding will also provide for technical assistance, training, and capacity‑building in parole offices in Brooklyn and Queens, two boroughs with high concentrations of individuals returning from state custody. By strengthening coordination between parole supervision and local service providers, the APEX Initiative will help officers implement evidence‑based practices, improve compliance outcomes, and reduce the likelihood of reoffending.
Request: $1,387,950
Account: DOJ - State and Local Law Enforcement Assistance - Byrne Justice Grants
- Recipient: Queens Together Inc
Project Title: NYPD–Community Youth Stability and Public Safety Partnership
Project Description: A precinct-based NYPD–community partnership delivering food access, mentorship, and youth engagement to stabilize families, reduce recidivism and justice involvement, strengthen public safety, and build stronger relationships between law enforcement and the communities they serve in public housing neighborhoods. Through this program, Queens Together will work with NYPD Community Affairs teams and local partners in and around Queensbridge Houses, Ravenswood Houses, and Woodside Houses to implement two coordinated strategies. First, the program will support precinct-based food pantries at neighborhood schools, providing fresh produce to families facing financial hardship and addressing food insecurity linked to school absenteeism and poor academic performance. Second, the program will connect teens to small business owners and community leaders who serve as mentors through structured youth engagement programs led by precinct teams. These relationships provide consistent guidance, exposure to career pathways, and positive community connections that reduce the likelihood of justice involvement and repeat offenses.
Request: $1,000,000.00
Account: DOJ - State and Local Law Enforcement Assistance - Byrne Justice Grants
Recipient: Southside United Housing Development Fund Corporation
Project Title: Neighborhood Safety Coalition
Project Description: Southside United HDFC – Los Sures will expand its comprehensive Community Violence Intervention strategy program to prevent shootings, reduce retaliation, and strengthen collaboration between community organizations and law enforcement partners. The purpose of this request is to prevent shootings, reduce retaliation, and strengthen collaboration between community organizations and law enforcement partners in North Brooklyn. Southside United HDFC serves as a critical community partner working alongside law enforcement to enhance prevention efforts, improve coordinated responses, and build stronger relationships between police and residents. Los Sures will partner directly with the NYPD and public safety stakeholders to implement a coordinated strategy through regular participation in roll calls, precinct council meetings, and community safety forums to establish alignment on local concerns and strengthen communication between officers and community. This initiative will build law enforcement capacity to respond to entrenched violence by incorporating neighborhood context and fostering trust.
Request: $1,250,000.00
Account: DOJ - State and Local Law Enforcement Assistance - Byrne Justice Grants
- Recipient: Boricua College
Project Title: Boricua College Project Embrace: Crime Prevention and Recidivism Reduction through Supportive Services and Opportunities
Project Description: The project will provide a holistic set of services that includes educational and social support, workforce opportunities, mental health counseling, and assistance navigating legal requirements within the justice system. The program is designed to strengthen access to coordinated services for individuals impacted by the criminal justice system. By addressing these needs, the project aims to enhance public safety, reduce recidivism, and improve outcomes for participants and the communities to which they return.
Request: $1,250,000.00
Account: DOJ - State and Local Law Enforcement Assistance - Byrne Justice Grants
- Recipient: Grand Street Settlement
Project Title: Grand Street Settlement’s Culinary Workforce Program for Justice-Involved Youth at Marcy Houses
Project Description: Grand Street Settlement’s Culinary Workforce Program for Justice-Involved Youth at Marcy Houses will support community-centered economic mobility and youth development through a proven culinary training model. This prevention and education program, implemented by Drive Change, will train a cohort of justice involved youth aged 18-25 residing at Marcy Houses in Brooklyn in culinary arts, food safety, and professional kitchen skills, equipping them with the credentials needed to pursue careers in the food service industry. Through this holistic approach, young individuals facing barriers to employment will engage in hands-on culinary training that leverages the Drive Change expertise in food education. With the support of mentors, they will experience a safe and nurturing environment to build their professional skills and self-confidence and ensure long-term reintegration. The program will improve the criminal justice system by preventing recidivism and enhancing neighborhood safety. Grand Street Settlement’s longstanding presence and deep roots in serving New York City’s most underserved communities, and its alliance with the Kings County District Attorney’s Office (KCDA), will ensure that this program reaches the youth who need it most at Marcy Houses.
Request: $500,000
Account: DOJ - State and Local Law Enforcement Assistance - Byrne Justice Grants
- Recipient: Opportunities for a Better Tomorrow
Project Title: Pathways to Opportunity
Project Description: Pathways to Opportunity is a workforce development initiative led by Opportunities for a Better Tomorrow (OBT) that will serve approximately 100 justice impacted individuals and residents affected by community violence, ages 18 and older, from communities within New York’s 7th Congressional District. Participants will enroll in industry recognized construction and infrastructure training pathways, including Construct Forward, Masonry Restoration, and HVAC training, earning credentials such as OSHA 30, Site Safety Training (SST), Flagging, EPA 608, and hands on technical skills in carpentry, plumbing, and electrical systems through partnerships with Kingsborough Community College and industry employers. The program combines technical training with structured professional development, emphasizing workplace discipline, leadership development, professional etiquette, communication skills, career mentorship, and job placement services to prepare participants for success in professional work environments and skilled trades careers. In partnership with the NYPD 90th Precinct Community Affairs Unit, the initiative will support outreach to justice impacted and disconnected youth, provide workshops that strengthen positive police-community relationships, and engage participants in mentorship and community safety dialogues while also providing case management, stipends for food and transportation, professional clothing, access to technology, direct employer connections, and up to one year of job retention and follow up services to help ensure participants secure and maintain stable employment.
Request: $1,500,000.00
Account: DOJ - State and Local Law Enforcement Assistance - Byrne Justice Grants
- Recipient: Municipality of Yabucoa, Puerto Rico
Project Tite: Community Safety and Smart Surveillance Initiative
Account: DOJ - State and Local Law Enforcement Assistance - Byrne Justice Grants
Project Description: This project will establish an integrated, technology-driven surveillance network that combines fiber optic infrastructure, wireless communication systems, and strategically deployed high-resolution cameras to create a resilient and scalable public safety platform. This backbone will support the interconnection of critical municipal facilities and surveillance assets. The project will deploy a network of over 140 surveillance points, including PTZ (pan-tilt-zoom) cameras and vandal-resistant dome cameras, strategically located along major transportation routes and high-traffic areas to improve situational awareness and deter criminal activity. In addition, the system incorporates solar-powered, self-sustaining camera enclosures with battery backup, ensuring uninterrupted operation during power outages and emergency events. To ensure seamless system integration and real-time monitoring, the project includes the implementation of a centralized Video Management System (VMS) with high-capacity storage servers and dedicated workstations. This platform will enable municipal police and emergency personnel to monitor live feeds, review recorded footage, and utilize analytics to support targeted community policing and rapid incident response. By investing in modern surveillance infrastructure, the Municipality of Yabucoa aims to reduce crime, improve response times, and enhance coordination among public safety agencies. The project is designed with scalability in mind, allowing for future expansion and integration with additional smart city technologies. Ultimately, this initiative represents a critical investment in community safety, resilience, and the modernization of municipal public safety systems.
Request: $971,542.00
THUD
9.Recipient: NYC Department of Environmental Protection
Project Title: Calvary Cemetery Stormwater Infrastructure, Western Queens
Project Description: This project will provide investment in stormwater management infrastructure within Calvary Cemetery located in Sunnyside, Maspeth, and Woodside, Queens. Calvary Cemetery covers 365 acres across these neighborhoods. While a substantial portion of the cemetery is natural lawn and can be considered semi pervious, there is a sizable amount of impervious area, roughly 45 acres, that generate stormwater runoff. DEP will work closely with Calvary Cemetery on designing and implementing stormwater practices to infiltrate or store stormwater and improve drainage on the site, which has the added benefit of reducing stormwater runoff leaving the cemetery. This scope will include completing geotechnical investigations to determine subsurface conditions, a survey to determine existing topography and any subsurface utilities, design services for designing appropriate stormwater management infrastructure with the results of the geotechnical and survey work and construction of stormwater management infrastructure.
Account: THUD-Economic Development Initiatives
Request: $10,000,000
10. Recipient:Research Foundation of the City University of New York
Project Title: LaGuardia Community College Equipment and Capital Improvement for Workforce Development
Project Description: LaGuardia Community College in Queens, New York, seeks $3.11 million to equip the instructional labs and learning environments within its new Cohen Career Collective (CCC), a 160,000-square-foot workforce development center currently under construction in Long Island City, located in New York’s 7th Congressional District. Backed by a $116.23 million capital gift from the Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation, the construction is fully funded and actively advancing. With the design largely complete, LaGuardia anticipates filing with the Department of Buildings this month and is in the early stages of procuring a general contractor.
Federal support would represent the final activation step required to operationalize the facility’s workforce training spaces. By leveraging a privately funded capital investment already in motion, this request ensures that taxpayer dollars are deployed into an implementation-ready project with defined construction milestones and measurable workforce outcomes. The project will expand career-connected opportunities for residents of New York’s 7th Congressional District and the surrounding boroughs, accelerating economic mobility for New Yorkers while strengthening the pipeline of industry-aligned talent for local employers. The Cohen Career Collective will be the largest workforce development facility of its kind in the region, housing more than 50 hands-on instructional labs, lecture classrooms, and student collaboration spaces. Programs will focus on four high-demand sectors: Technology; Construction & Green Jobs; Healthcare; and Culinary Arts. Programs lead to Associate of Applied Science degrees, industry certifications, and employer-recognized credentials aligned with documented labor market demand in New York City. Funding through this request will support purchase of industry-standard lab equipment, A/V systems, and instructional furnishings necessary for hands-on, career-focused education in Healthcare and Culinary Arts.
Account: THUD-Economic Development Initiatives
Request: $3,105,000
11. Recipient: NYC Department of Environmental Protection
Project Title: Greenpoint, Brooklyn Stormwater Infrastructure
Project Description: This project will provide capital investment in green stormwater management infrastructure at sites in Greenpoint, Brooklyn including local playgrounds and other sites to address impervious public areas that drain to a combined sewer system at three key locations. DEP will work with agencies and stakeholders on designing and implementing stormwater practices to infiltrate or store stormwater before it enters the City sewer system to reduce combined sewer overflows to the East River and improve drainage on multiple public sites.
Account: THUD-Economic Development Initiatives
Request: $10,000,000
12.Recipient: New York City Department of Small Business Services
Project Title: Shop Local Brooklyn & Queens
Project Description: This proposal would invest $5 million in targeted commercial revitalization efforts within a designated local congressional district to strengthen neighborhood business corridors and improve the public realm. While determination on the specific targeted intervention would be determined in coordination with overall SBS funding availability and potential city matching funds, programming could include holiday lighting, public art and murals, wayfinding signage, and supplemental sanitation services. These interventions are intended to increase foot traffic, enhance neighborhood identity, and create more welcoming and vibrant commercial corridors for residents, visitors, and small businesses.
Account: THUD-Economic Development Initiatives
Request: $10,000,000
13.Recipient: NYC Department of Education
Project Title: PS 60 Queens - Upgrade Auditorium and PS System
Project Description: PS 60 is in need of a fully renovated auditorium (chairs, lighting, sound system, screen & projector, air conditioning, windows, curtains, & flooring) and public announcement system. Both updates are imperative for students, teachers, and staff safety. Students need an area where they can gather for assembly meetings, participate in school plays, and welcome community members in for special events. The public announcement system at P.S. 60 goes in and out often with multiple requested repairs throughout the past several school years; we need a PA system where all stakeholders within PS 60 can hear important announcements.
Account: THUD-Economic Development Initiatives
Request: $5,000,000
14.Recipient: New York City Department of Small Business Services
Project Title: Long Island City Waterfront Esplanade
Project Description: The New York City Department of Small Business Services, operating through the New York City Economic Development Corporation, is seeking $3M to complete the construction of a waterfront esplanade along the East River in Long Island City (LIC) from the Queensboro Bridge in the north to Anable Basin in the south. Portions of this esplanade, including a section under the Queensboro Bridge, have already received design and construction funding through the OneLIC Neighborhood Plan, which passed the New York City Council in November 2025. Other portions, however, are not yet fully funded. New funding would help with early-stage implementation needs to close those gaps in the esplanade and ultimately fill a critical gap in the Long Island City waterfront by connecting Gantry Plaza State Park to Queensbridge Park. The additional funding would be used on critical early-stage activities, like technical engineering work, site surveys, and potential access agreements with current waterfront site owners, to facilitate construction on the full esplanade extent.
Account: THUD-Economic Development Initiatives
Request: $3,000,000
15. Recipient: New York State Metropolitan Transportation Authority
Project Title: ADA: Wilson Avenue (Southbound) / Canarsie Station Upgrade
Project Description: This project seeks to bring the Wilson Avenue station of the New York City Subway into full compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by installing elevators and other related improvements to provide accessibility for customers with disabilities. Specific work would include installation of one or more elevators, elevator machine rooms (EMRs), modification of existing stairs and/or installation of new stairs, modification of existing fare control areas and/or installation of new fare control areas, installation of new ADA boarding areas and tactile warning strips, and related utility, mechanical, electrical and communication work. This project will make the southbound side of the station accessible because the northbound side is already accessible.
Account: THUD-Economic Development Initiatives
Request: $5,000,000
16.Recipient: New York City Department for the Aging
Project Title: 211 Ainslie St Community Facility Renovation
Project Description: St. Nicks Alliance is seeking the funds to implement capital improvements at the 211 Ainslie Center. This Community Facility has been a vital center for North Brooklyn for nearly 50 years. However, it requires substantial capital improvements to enable it to meet the needs of the different uses in the 21st Century. A Master Plan created a framework and phasing schedule for long term capital investment to revitalize the community facility after 45 years of capital disinvestment. The Current scope of work includes installation of a modern HVAC system, reconfiguration of the building entry to meet security and accessibility needs and replacement of the facility roof. The new all electric HVAC system replaces a steam heat from a boiler and window air conditioning units in all the rooms. These 40-year-old systems are woefully inefficient for proper heating and cooling and not energy efficient. The current entrance to the 211 Ainslie Center has steep stairs and no handicapped accessibility. All mobility impaired visitors must enter at the rear of the building by the service entrance. There is also no space to separate the children in Small World Childcare from visitors to the Swinging Sixties Senior center. The proposed redesign creates a gracious entry space that provides security, universal access and allows all activities in the facility to operate without hindrance. There is interior work to create a new security desk, expanding the entrance vestibule and adding an ADA compliant ramp. Both the large roof at the top level and a smaller roof on accessed on the second floor are more than 15 years old and have been patched many times to address leaks. The scope of work will remove the current roof material, repair damaged flashing and drains, update masonry pointing and apply new insulated roof. Any existing equipment on the roof will be replaced.
Account: THUD-Economic Development Initiatives
Request: $2,000,000
17.Recipient:New York City Housing Authority
Project Title: Safety and Security Project – Woodside Houses
Project Description: This project involves installation of one or more of the following scope items: CCTV cameras, layered access entrance system, storefront entrance, intercom system, and interior and/or exterior lighting around building entrances. The detailed scope of work is determined based on the budget, engagement of stakeholders, and specific needs and design of the site.
Account: THUD-Economic Development Initiatives
Request: $4,000,000
18.Recipient: New York City Housing Authority
Project Title: Building Line Initiative – Plumbing Stack Replacement – Queensbridge South Houses
Project Description: The New York City Housing Authority Building Line Initiative (BLI) is a targeted, data-driven capital program that fully replaces aging plumbing systems in the highest-need building lines—addressing chronic leaks, condensation, and mold at their source while completing comprehensive bathroom and kitchen renovations. By replacing vertical waste risers, vent lines, branch lines, and domestic water supply lines and performing full mold remediation, BLI delivers permanent repairs that improve resident health and safety, reduce repeat emergency work orders, and extend the life of critical infrastructure. Grant funding will enable NYCHA to accelerate this proven approach in developments where decades-old plumbing continues to contribute to persistent maintenance challenges and quality-of-life concerns.
Account: THUD-Economic Development Initiatives
Request: $2,000,000
19.Recipient: New York City Housing Authority
Project Title: Safety and Security Project – Bushwick Houses
Project Description: This project involves installation of one or more of the following scope items: CCTV cameras, layered access entrance system, storefront entrance, intercom system, interior and/or exterior lighting around building entrances. The detailed scope of work is determined based on the budget, engagement of stakeholders, and specific needs and design of the site.
Account: THUD-Economic Development Initiatives
Request: $2,000,000
20.Recipient: Community School District 14 within NYC Public Schools
Project Title: AI Innovation Center at Community School District 14
Project Description: Community School District 14 proposes the habilitation of existing learning spaces to establish an Artificial Intelligence (AI) Innovation Center in Brooklyn to prepare students for a rapidly evolving, technology-driven future. The Center will be housed across one elementary and one secondary school and will serve as a districtwide hub for student learning, educator development, and community engagement. The AI Innovation Center will provide students with hands-on, project-based learning experiences that build critical thinking, collaboration, and problem-solving skills, while developing foundational AI literacy. Students will explore real-world applications of artificial intelligence and gain an understanding of their ethical implications, with a strong emphasis on maintaining human-centered decision-making in the use of technology. In addition to student programming, the Center will support districtwide professional development to build educator capacity in integrating AI into instruction. It will also serve as a community resource, offering workshops and events for families to ensure wide access to emerging technologies. The physical learning environment will be modern, flexible, and technology-rich, designed to reflect the future workplace. The Center will be fully integrated into the school communities it serves while also functioning as a scalable model for innovation across the district. This initiative represents a strategic investment, ensuring that all students, particularly those in historically underserved communities, have access to cutting-edge learning opportunities and are prepared to thrive in the 21st-century global economy.
Account: THUD-Economic Development Initiatives
Request: $4,500,000