SILVER SPRING, MD — Congressman Jamie Raskin (MD-08) has requested $2.7 million in federal funding for proposed public health and safety projects in Montgomery County through the Fiscal Year 2022 Community Project Funding program. Rep. Raskin’s requests include: $1 million for Clean Water Montgomery; $500,000 for pedestrian improvements at Long Branch Stream Valley Park in Wheaton; $495,000 for the Muslim Community Center Medical Clinic in Silver Spring; $300,000 for the Downtown Silver Spring Place-Based Economic Revitalization and Workforce Development Initiative; and $297,500 for the Jewish Coalition Against Domestic Abuse (JCADA) in Rockville and $80,000 for Community Bridges in Silver Spring, two vital non-profits that empower domestic abuse survivors and young women from immigrant and minority communities. Additional information about each request and about the process for seeking federal funding for community projects is below.
“The health, safety, and wellbeing of my constituents are my top priorities,” said Rep. Raskin. “I am proud to support these six excellent and worthy community projects, which will enhance the quality of life for Montgomery County residents by improving clean water quality, increasing pedestrian safety and accessibility for people with disabilities, revitalizing downtown Silver Spring, expanding access to medical care for the uninsured and underinsured, connecting domestic abuse victims and survivors with essential services, and empowering young women to embrace their full potential.”
Clean Water Montgomery - Watershed Enhancement Project
Amount Requested: $1,000,000
Intended Recipient: Montgomery County, MD Government, 2425 Reedie Drive, 4th Floor, Wheaton, MD 20902
Project Description: This project will help improve water quality for the residents of Montgomery County by increasing tree canopy through reforestation, individual shade tree plantings, and green infrastructure projects to manage, reduce, treat, or recapture stormwater through the County’s watershed grant program.
Long Branch Stream Valley Park Pedestrian Bridge Replacements & ADA Improvements
Amount Requested: $500,000
Intended Recipient: Montgomery County, MD Government, 2425 Reedie Drive, 11th Floor, Wheaton, MD 20902
Project Description: This project will update three existing pedestrian bridges along the Long Branch Stream Valley, located in one of Montgomery County’s Equity Focus Areas (EFA). The new bridges will incorporate modern ADA accessibility standards, drainage improvements, and enhancements for community safety and interconnection of neighborhoods. This project will enhance public safety and help better connect diverse communities that were developed separately in the 1950s and 1960s with little regard for connectivity, accessibility, or environmental impact.
Muslim Community Center (MCC) Medical Clinic
Amount Requested: $495,000
Intended Recipient: Muslim Community Center, Inc., 15200 New Hampshire Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20905
Project Description: The Clinic’s patient population has significantly grown over the last 18 years. The Clinic now has insufficient space to meet the increased demand for affordable health care and specialty services in the community. This funding would help the Clinic serve more patients by expanding the current building structure and space with the addition of mobile trailers.
Downtown Silver Spring Place-Based Economic Revitalization and Workforce Development Initiative
Amount Requested: $300,000
Intended Recipient: Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation, 101 Monroe Street, 4th Floor, Rockville, MD 20850
Project Description: The project will position downtown Silver Spring to create a new economic identity as a climate industry corridor, which has the potential to have a significant and long-term impact on the area’s economic recovery and growth. The project will partner with Montgomery College-Silver Spring on training and apprenticeship opportunities for careers in climate industries. The project will also support one of downtown Silver Spring and Montgomery County’s growth industries: craft food and beverage manufacturing.
“Like many communities across America, downtown Silver Spring has been negatively affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and is currently enduring high office vacancy rates of nearly 20%, decreased visitors and foot traffic, and increases in nuisance crimes,” said Rep. Raskin. “The Downtown Silver Spring Place-Based Economic Revitalization and Workforce Development Initiative is the signature community economic development initiative of the recently-formed Montgomery County Commerce Cabinet and I am hopeful that we can see it come to life.”
Jewish Coalition Against Domestic Abuse (JCADA)
Amount Requested: $297,500
Intended Recipient: The Greater Washington Jewish Coalition Against Domestic Abuse, PO Box 2266, Rockville, MD 20847
Project Description: This funding will allow JCADA to serve more people by temporarily hiring additional staff to deal with the surge of clients experiencing domestic violence and sexual assault who are coming forward to receive services during the COVID-19 pandemic. With this funding, JCADA could continue to provide hybrid in-person and remote services to survivors as well as provide temporary assistance to clients dealing with homelessness and food insecurity through small housing and food grants.
“Across America, and in Maryland, we have seen an increased demand for services for domestic violence and abuse victims and survivors,” said Rep. Raskin. “This is true for JCADA, an outstanding local non-profit that provides clinical, victim advocacy, and direct legal services across the Greater Washington community. I’m proud to support its effort to expand client capacity and am hopeful that one day we can put an end to power-based violence in all communities.”
Community Bridges (CB) Girls Program
Amount Requested: $80,000
Intended Recipient: Community Bridges, Inc., 8757 Georgia Avenue, Ste. 540 Silver Spring, MD 20910
Project Description: The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the need for programs like CB Girls, which provides academic support through tutoring, homework club, academic and cognitive testing, extensive college and career prep and access to food resources for under-resourced girls and young women in Montgomery County, many of whom currently live at or below the federal poverty level. CB has been conducting its programming virtually during the pandemic and supporting girls at more than 21 schools in Montgomery County. This funding will ensure that CB can continue to work with these girls as they transition to in-person programming and continue wrap-around services such as access to food through bi-weekly deliveries.
Background on Community Project Funding:
When the House Appropriations Committee announced the new Community Project Funding initiative in March, Rep. Raskin solicited requests from eligible entities in Montgomery, Frederick, and Carroll Counties. He received more than 30 requests from local governments and non-profits across the 8th District. Members were limited to submitting 10 total funding requests to the House Appropriations Committee. In addition to these six Montgomery County community projects, Rep. Raskin also requested federal funding for two Carroll County public safety projects and two Frederick County Government public health and workforce development projects.
For more information about Rep. Raskin’s Community Project Funding requests, click here.
The House Appropriations Committee will determine which of Rep. Raskin's projects, if any, will receive funding. For a project to receive funding, the funding must be included in the version of the appropriations bill that is passed by the House and Senate and signed into law. To learn more about Community Project Funding, including eligibility and transparency requirements, and to view a list of funding requests from each participating congressional office, click here.
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