Ocasio-Cortez Requests $31,989,527 in FY26 Federal Community Project Funding for Fifteen Projects in The Bronx and Queens

Washington, D.C. - Today, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14) announced that she has requested federal funding for 15 community projects that would serve New York’s 14th Congressional District. The proposed projects include investments in coastal infrastructure to mitigate flooding and heat hazards, services for survivors of sexual and intimate partner violence, violence interruption, and more. 

Every year, Congress is tasked with passing appropriations bills that dictate how federal dollars are spent. Appropriations bills determine total funding levels across federal agencies, specific funding levels for programs within those agencies, and what activities are eligible for funding. The first step in this process is for Members of Congress to make requests to the House Appropriations Committee.

“Our office submitted funding requests for 15 community projects to the House Appropriations Committee that will directly benefit our communities in The Bronx and Queens. These projects include investments in violence interruption, green infrastructure to mitigate effects from major weather events, services for survivors of sexual and intimate partner violence, and more,” said Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. “I want to thank our community and government partners who collaborated with our office during the submission process.”

Under guidelines issued by the House Appropriations Committee, each Representative may request up to 15 projects in their community to be considered for fiscal year 2026 funding. Funding is restricted to a limited number of project categories, and only state and local governments and eligible non-profit entities are permitted to receive funding. 

Additional information on the guidelines governing Community Project Funding can be found here.

The fifteen selected projects are outlined below: 

1. New York City (NYC) Department of Small Business Services - East 132nd Street Pier Project: $10,725,555

NYC Department of Small Business Services requests $10,725,555 to build coastal resilience and restore waterfront access to an economically distressed community in the South Bronx by using nature-based strategies. The project will create oyster reefs and stabilize and restore the shoreline to allow for construction of a pier, which will strengthen resilience against flooding and heat hazards and ultimately expand access to public green space.

2. Thrive For Life Prison Project, Inc - Bronx First Chance for Reentry Success: $1,000,000

Thrive For Life, Inc., requests $1,000,000 for expansion of vocational education and workforce training programs at Abraham House in the South Bronx, designed to reduce recidivism by equipping justice-impacted individuals with in-demand, job-ready skills and certifications. The program offers a broad range of credential-bearing courses delivered through a trauma-informed and workforce-aligned model.

3. New York City (NYC) Department of Parks and Recreation - Marine Debris Removal in The Bronx and College Point: $1,246,000

NYC Parks is requesting $1,246,000 to address the presence of large debris and abandoned and derelict vessels in Westchester Creek in the Bronx and around College Point in Queens. This project aims to remove 2,891 cubic yards of debris and 11 abandoned and derelict vessels from Westchester Creek and College Point.

4. Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai - Sexual Assault and Violence Intervention Program (SAVI): $500,000

The SAVI Program requests $500,000 to address gaps in services to victims of sexual and intimate partner violence in NY-14 by enhancing the Sexual Assault Forensic Examiner Program in Queens; replicating their Advocate Program in Emergency Departments in the South Bronx; and increasing their professional training and community outreach efforts.

5. City Island Oyster Reef, Inc. - Oyster Reef Capacitation: $403,491

City Island Oyster Reef (CIOR) requests $403,491 to reestablish a resilient ecosystem in western Long Island Sound by creating two oyster reef habitats and thereby increasing oyster populations in the waters surrounding City Island in the Bronx.

6. New York Sun Works, Inc. - STEM through Hydroponic Farming Program: $525,000

New York Sun Works requests $525,000 to support their STEM through Hydroponic Farming program in 25 NY-14 public schools (including 20 current partner schools and expansion to 5 new schools), enabling them to reach approximately 7,500 K-12 students with hands-on, high-quality STEM education and train 25 teachers to support long-term program sustainability.

7. Bronx River Alliance - Soundview Coastal Resiliency and Community Development: $750,000

The Bronx River Alliance requests $750,000 for the Soundview Coastal Resiliency and Community Development project to coordinate for maximum impact the leading groups working on coastal resiliency in Soundview. The project will involve gathering information on all current and recent projects with the goal of compiling and sharing lessons learned. The funding would be used to coordinate community and youth engagement on activities including siting, design, implementation, maintenance and monitoring of coastal adaptation projects underway in the Soundview community.

8. Queens Borough Public Library - Design Your Habitat: $252,500

Design Your Habitat requests $252,500 to engage up to 200 teenagers in Queens in learning about space habitat design, life support systems, and living and working in space including the International Space Station (ISS) and other future Low Earth Orbit (LEO) stations. This project blends space science with artistic creativity and storytelling through the design of new habitats and space stations, across 7 libraries serving New York’s 14th Congressional District.

9. Elmcor Youth & Adult Activities, Inc. - B.R.A.V.E. - Response to Recent Youth Violence in Queens: $100,000

Elmcor is seeking $100,000 to support its violence prevention program, B.R.A.V.E (Building Resilience and Alternative to Violence Everyday), that addresses youth violence through strategic violence-interruption plans designed to authentically engage vulnerable populations previously involved in or impacted by violent activity. This initiative offers youth positive alternatives through a comprehensive drug-prevention curriculum, counseling, youth-relevant workshops and resources for participants and their families in response to increasing youth violence in Queens. 

10. New York City Department of Sanitation - Bronx Wetland Mitigation: $3,918,981

The New York City Department of Sanitation (DSNY) is seeking $3,918,981 in funding to help rehabilitate a wetland area adjacent to its fueling operations for the Bronx 9/10/11 garage. After an initial review with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, DSNY has planned two phases of wetland mitigation. Phase 1 is wetland habitat reconstruction to offset the wetland disturbance to be caused by the nearby garage activities; and Phase 2 wetlands mitigation will demolish all structures on the South Lot and then tilling at least 8 inches deep and seeding the area to make a wetland adjacent meadow.

11. New York City Department of Small Business Services - Food Bank Warehouse Upgrades: $2,998,000

NYC Department of Small Business Services requests $2,998,000 to address safety issues at a warehouse leased by Food Bank NYC. The project includes resurfacing the 90,000 square foot concrete floor and installing a 5,000 CFM Energy Recovery Ventilation (ERV) unit to address dust, fresh air, and humidity control concerns, and updating egress doors with necessary life safety hardware, closers, and panic bars.

12.  New York City Department of Education - School Food Forest at Adlai Stevenson High School: $850,000

NYC Department of Environmental Protection requests $850,000 to build a school food forest at Adlai Stevenson High School that would provide green infrastructure to produce food, mitigate flooding, and serve as a living educational hub. Federal funding would support city-based agriculture, increasing access to local food and fostering economic development, while mitigating soil pollution and flooding.

13.  New York State Metropolitan Transit Authority - Broadway Station ADA Upgrades: $3,000,0000

New York State Metropolitan Transit Authority (NYSMTA) requests $3,000,000 to make the Broadway N/W station ADA-accessible by installing elevators and other accessibility elements. Station work also includes modification of platforms, mezzanine areas, and stairs to provide accessible paths of travel to both platforms.

14.  New York City Department of Education - Literacy Hub at C.S. 150: $720,000

The New York City Department of Education requests $720,000 to revitalize an underutilized library space, transforming it into a vibrant literacy hub that catalyzes academic achievement and community engagement.

15.  NYC Department of Transportation - Southern Boulevard Bus Stops Under the El: $5,000,000

The New York City Department of Transportation requests $5,000,000 to construct bus bulbs, pedestrian safety improvements, and accessibility upgrades at six intersections on Southern Boulevard under the elevated 2/5 between 167th and 174th Streets.