The House of Representatives on Wednesday passed appropriations legislation for fiscal year 2022 that includes almost $7 million in funding for more than half a dozen community projects and initiatives across Long Beach.

Of the $60.9 million in federal funding that U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) said he secured for projects across Los Angeles County, at least $2.5 million was going to initiatives in Long Beach.

  • $1 million to help Long Beach transition to zero-emission buses: This money will support the purchase of battery-electric or fuel cell-electric buses to help Long Beach transition its aging bus fleet to zero-emission technology. This will further the Long Beach Transit agency’s goal of having an entire fleet of zero-emission buses by 2035.
  • $1.5 million for the Conservation Corps of Long Beach: This funding will support a collaboration between the Los Angeles Conservation Corps, Conservation Corps of Long Beach and San Gabriel Valley Conservation to “scale up activities and provide more paid job training, educational opportunities, support services, and career development services to young adults, with an emphasis on reaching underserved communities,” according to a press release.

Congressman Alan Lowenthal announced that he secured more than $7.6 million for nine community projects in the 47th District which covers the cities of Long Beach, Lakewood, Signal Hill, Avalon, Los Alamitos, Rossmoor, Cypress, Westminster, Garden Grove, Buena Park, Anaheim, Midway City and Stanton.

Community organizations and local governments in District 47 worked together on ideas for the community projects to submit to Lowenthal last year. The funding for these community projects will support STEM education, provide support for at-risk youth across Long Beach and more.

Of Lowenthal’s nine community projects, six will support initiatives in Long Beach including:

  • $1.5 million to upgrade Silverado Park Playground: This project would allow the city of Long Beach to install a signature playground at Silverado Park to improve and upgrade the current playground facilities. Silverado Park is one of the last major parks in the city that does not have a signature playground with age-appropriate facilities and structures, according to a press release
  • $1,094,239 to support housing for veterans in Long Beach: This project would support The Cove at the Villages at Cabrillo, which offers permanent supportive housing for veterans in Long Beach. The Cove aims to provide access to safe and affordable housing for veterans as well as access to all resources and services to help them remain healthy and stable.
  • $575,000 for MemorialCare Health System for construction and equipment and an electronic health records initiative: This project would move the Miller Children’s and Women’s Hospital Obstetrics Clinic into a larger space at MemorialCare’s Long Beach Medical Center that will provide access to necessary services for patients. Miller Children’s and Women’s Hospital Obstetrics Clinic is a 357-bed nonprofit pediatric teaching hospital that has become a regional pediatric and women’s health destination and has served the greater Long Beach area since 1970. A press release from Lowenthal states that the current space is too small and not integrated with MCWH’s electronic health record.
  • $500,000 to support teacher development and student academic support: This project will expand the work of the California State University Center to Close the Opportunity Gap at Cal State Long Beach. This multi-campus initiative aims to support systemic change and advance K-12 students’ academic success. Additional funds will help CCOG better understand the impact of school closures and adaptations to instructional practices in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and it will help recruit, prepare and retain teachers of color who are prepared to work in post-pandemic schools in the city.
  • $250,000 to support college preparation activities and scholarships for at-risk youth: This project would support the African American History and Culture Foundation’s Supplemental Transition Education Program for Underrepresented Populations (STEP UP) program. The STEP UP program provides direct services to at-risk youth as well as empowering parents with skills to effectively support their students.
  • $50,000 to support STEM education and college access: This project would support the ESP Education & Leadership Institute’s Business Of Student Success (BOSS) program. The BOSS program seeks to better prepare boys from under-resourced communities and schools for graduation, college and their careers. 

Congresswoman Nanette Barragán, who represents the 44th district, secured $7,535,000 for projects across San Pedro, Watts, Wilmington, Compton, South Gate, Long Beach, Carson, and Lynwood. Of her 10 community projects, one will directly support Long Beach.

  • $250,000 for childhood education and literacy programs: This project will support the city of Long Beach in creating early childhood education and literacy programs at the Michelle Obama Neighborhood Library.

President Joe Biden is expected to sign the appropriations bill into law next week after it passes the Senate.

“I am proud to have secured funding for projects in Los Angeles to improve our water and transportation infrastructure, support health care services, and make our communities safer,” said Senator Padilla in a press release. “This funding will go to local governments and community organizations that are directly serving our neighborhoods.”

Here’s how state lawmakers want to help Californians facing high gas prices