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Houlahan Announces Local Organizations Selected for FY25 Community Project Funding Grants Process

Houlahan sent 15 projects to the Appropriations Committee for consideration

PENNSYLVANIA – Today, Representative Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA) announced the 15 Community Project Funding Grant requests she submitted to the House Appropriations Committee for the Fiscal Year 2025. Each year, members of Congress are able to submit up to 15 projects for priority consideration by the Committee. These funds will help local organizations improve safety, housing, and education initiatives, and provide additional benefits to the Sixth District of Pennsylvania. 

 

"This funding is vital to our community, and I am proud to have secured millions of dollars in Community Project Funding Grants for Berks and Chester Counties in previous years,” said Houlahan. “I am excited to announce the 15 Community Projects I’ve submitted for the Fiscal Year 2025 budget that, if selected, will update community spaces, improve educational programs, and ensure our communities are protected. I want to thank every organization that submitted projects to address important community needs; I will do everything in my power to secure funding for these impactful projects and continue to help our community.” 

 

Houlahan submitted the following requests for Community Project Funding Grants, which may be included in the Fiscal Year 2025 Appropriations bill. Listed in alphabetical order, the projects are:   

 

  • Barclay Friends Memory Care Expansion and Renovation 

  • City of Reading 11th and Pike Recreation Center Expansion 

  • City of Reading Cornerstone at 6th and Chesnut Senior Housing 

  • Connections Work of Berks County Reentry Works Program 

  • East Whiteland Township Route 30 Corridor Improvements Project 

  • Goshen Fire Company EMS and Fire Station Infrastructure Project 

  • Kennett Square Police Department Force De-Escalation Initiative 

  • Keystone Valley Fire Department Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus Replacement 

  • Ludwigs Corner Fire Company Building Renovation 

  • New London Counseling Center Mental Health Facility Expansion 

  • Reading Area Community College Schmidt Training and Technology Center Expansion for Workforce Development 

  • Valley Township Public Safety Initiative: Preemption System, Emitters, and License Plate Readers 

  • Wagontown Volunteer Fire Company Breathing Air Compressor Purchase 

  • West Chester University Research on Modeling Technology for Affordable Housing 

  • West Grove Memorial Park Expansion 

 

Since the House Appropriation’s Committee began Community Project Funding Grants in 2021, Houlahan has utilized a nonpartisan board of community leaders to review applications and make recommendations to the office, ensuring a fair process. 

 

See quotes from selectees below: 

 

"The City of Reading and the Reading Recreation Commission are honored to be chosen as potential recipients of Community Project Funding for expansion of the 11th and Pike Recreation Center. This project is about more than investing in bricks and mortar; it is about investment in the strong future of our youth. If chosen, 11th and Pike Recreation Center will positively impact thousands of young men and women in Reading by providing a safe and nurturing environment to thrive. We are grateful that Representative Houlahan shares our vision of helping to create positive recreation experiences that bring people together and strengthen our community. We look forward to working with the House Appropriations Committee to advance this project and help thousands of youth have positive recreation experiences that will pay dividends for future generations," said Eddie Moran, Mayor, City of Reading, PA and Dr. Daphne Klahr, Executive Director, Reading Recreation Commission. 

 

Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan's unwavering support and advocacy for our community in Reading, PA, has been truly remarkable. By pledging to include $ 1 million for Cornerstone in her FY2025 budget request, we are one step closer to securing this vital funding to combat blight and to address the critical need for senior housing. This investment will transform lives and revitalize neighborhoods, and we are immensely grateful for her leadership and commitment to our city's well-being. The Cornerstone at 6th and Chestnut Senior Housing project will transform a blighted historic building into an anchor for economic development a few blocks away from the train station where Amtrak service would be restored,” said Eddie Moran, Mayor, City of Reading, PA. 

 

“Connections Work greatly appreciates that our Reentry Works program is being considered for Community Projects funding. Reentry Works is a comprehensive initiative that streamlines the process of service provision to those soon to be released from the county jail and to individuals with justice involvement living in the community. Reentry Works will serve as a centralized resource hub and provide a comprehensive case managed workforce development program. This coordinated system of support will increase the rate of stable employment of those served while decreasing the likelihood they become reinvolved in the justice system. We are very grateful for Representative Houlahan’s support of this project which will have long term positive impacts not only on the hundreds that will be served by Reentry Works but on the entire community as well,” said Peggy Kershner, Co-Executive Director, Connections Work. 

 

“On behalf of the residents of East Whiteland I want to thank Congresswoman Houlahan for her strong and continuing partnership in helping to improve pedestrian and vehicular safety along the most dangerous cross route section of Route 30. This federal investment would make crucial safety improvements which have long been a priority for the township. We could not ask for a stronger advocate than Congresswoman Houlahan and we are immensely grateful for her support,” said Scott Lambert, Board Chairman East Whiteland Township Supervisor. 

 

“The Goshen Fire Company is deeply honored to have our Fire/EMS Station Infrastructure Project selected as a community project in the Pennsylvania 6th Congressional District by Representative Houlahan and her staff. The Goshen Fire Company provides emergency services to 35,000 residents across 25 square miles in the Greater West Chester area, and these appropriations play a key role in supporting community-based emergency services.  If approved, this funding will provide our volunteers and staff with a healthy and safe workplace and enable the Fire Company to provide critical life-saving services to our community for years to come.  We are hopeful the Appropriations Committee will advance our project and are grateful for Representative Houlahan’s support,” said Fire Company President Ted Harrison. 

 

“The Kennett Square Police Department is incredibly grateful that Representative Houlahan has chosen our Force De-Escalation Initiative project to more forward for consideration of funding by the Appropriations Committee.  This investment in updated less lethal equipment will allow our department to significantly reduce the severity of Use-of-Force incidents, thereby ensuring our community members’ safety and well-being. Preserving life is paramount in our mission of service to the community,” said Police Chief William T. Holdsworth. 

 

“The Keystone Valley Fire Department & Keystone Valley Regional Fire District are extremely grateful for the efforts of Congresswoman Houlahan and her staff in securing funding for the replacement of our self-contained breathing apparatus. This funding relieves KVFD and the Fire District of the burden of self-financing this critical but very expensive piece of equipment.  With our new SCBA, we look forward to continuing to provide our volunteer fire and rescue services to the western Chester County communities that we serve,” said Brian Gathercole, KVFD Chief. 

 

“We can’t thank Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan enough for her support recognizing the need for this project to renovate our building, and we really wouldn’t have gotten this far without her. I want to extend our thanks to her and her team for their work getting us to this exciting step in the process,” said Frank Gunson, Vice President of Ludwigs Corner Fire Company. 

 

“New London Counseling Center is beyond grateful to be considered for the Community Impact funding, which will support renovating the second floor of our office, allowing us to address the growing demand for mental health care services in our community. This Facility Expansion Project will include the creation of additional counseling rooms, allowing our dedicated team of 15 licensed therapists to expand our programs and serve many more individuals in need of mental health care services. As part of our commitment to providing quality, compassionate care to all, regardless of financial circumstances, these enhancements will play a crucial role in meeting the rising mental health needs of our community,” said Dr. Katie Bowman, Executive Director of New London Counseling Center. 

 

“We are so appreciative of Representative Houlahan’s support of our workforce development training programs at Reading Area Community College. As a vital connector in the workforce pipeline, we prepare a significant number of first-generation, underrepresented students for careers in the region’s top industry sectors. In order to meet the tremendous need of industry in our region, we must significantly expand our footprint, equipment and programs. We are so grateful to Representative Houlahan for her continued support,” said Dr. Susan Looney, President, Reading Area Community College. 

 

"On behalf the Board of Supervisors and residents of Valley Township and our first responders, we thank Congresswoman Houlahan for her support of the Township’s Public Safety Project for new pre-emption equipment and a license plate reader for our Airport Road/West Lincoln Highway traffic light.  Our notification that this project is under consideration came a day after there was a fire at our local elementary school where several local fire companies and first responders traveled through this intersection responding to the call.  To once again have working pre-emption equipment will provide faster and safer response time through a busy intersection for our first responders. As a community, we are hopeful the Appropriations Committee will move this important project forward,” said Janis Rambo, Township Manager. 

 

"The Wagontown Volunteer Fire Company would like to thank U.S. Rep. Chrissy Houlahan and staff for their work on this grant project. This grant will give the Wagontown Volunteer Fire Company the ability to refill our life saving Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) immediately following an incident. This equipment will allow us to be ready to serve our residents and visitors in a more timely manner.   Previously we were forced to rely on outside resources to accomplish this task. This critical piece of equipment would not be possible without the assistance of this grant," said Todd Ziegler, Deputy Fire Chief of the Wagontown Volunteer Fire Company. 

 

“West Chester University (WCU) is deeply grateful to U.S. Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan for recognizing the need to prioritize affordable housing in our community and for advocating on the University’s behalf to secure critical funding for a much-needed project. Using the nationally recognized expertise of the University’s Department of Geography and Planning, the project, which is entitled ‘Research on Modeling Technology for Affordable Housing,’ involves using geospatial tools to address the disconnect between employment opportunities and the availability of affordable housing. The project is designed to create tools to visualize development opportunities with 3-D models. Ultimately, these tools will assist municipal officials to engage with their stakeholders to develop appropriate housing strategies. This transformative work will yield a significant impact on our community, which is an uncompromising priority for all of us,” said West Chester University President Christopher Fiorentino. 

 

"The West Grove Borough Council, on behalf of the residents of our community, is honored to be selected as a community project by Representative Houlahan. The Memorial Park Soccer Field Project serves as the first step for upgrading our municipal parks, which act as essential public spaces for community members of all ages and backgrounds to gather for recreation, physical activity, mental and emotional health benefits, and community building. We are grateful for the opportunity to proceed to the Appropriations Committee, and hopeful they will see the strong public benefit of funding this project. Thank you to Representative Houlahan and her team for their ongoing efforts to serve and improve our District!" said Kristin Proto on behalf of the West Grove Borough Council. 

“Barclay Friends is a non-profit senior living community in West Chester dedicated to the care and support of older adults. Founded in 1893 as a Quaker boarding home, we have been part of the West Chester community for over 130 years. Our mission is to provide a continuum of services to older adults, with a focus on compassion and kindness, excellence, and continuous improvement,” wrote Philanthropy Director Glenn Barnhill in their application. Their project would establish 24 “personal care/memory care apartments...increasing the number of available memory care apartments in the community, thus better meeting the current and expected future needs of the community.” 

 

For the full description of each project, visit Houlahan’s website here

 

Houlahan is an Air Force veteran, an engineer, a serial entrepreneur, an educator, and a nonprofit leader. She represents Pennsylvania’s 6th Congressional District, which encompasses Chester County and southern Berks County. She serves on the House Armed Services Committee and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. She is the recipient of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Abraham Lincoln Leadership for America Award which “recognizes members who demonstrate the bipartisan leadership and constructive governing necessary to move our country forward” and the Congressional Management Foundation’s 2022 Democracy Award for best Constituent Services in Congress. 

 

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