Community Project Funding - FY2025

Below is a summary of the 15 projects Congresswoman Ramirez submitted to the House Appropriations Committee for consideration for FY 2025 Community Project Funding (CPF). Each project recipient’s requested amount and required financial disclosure letter are included. The projects are listed in alphabetical order. 

In compliance with House Rules and Committee requirements, Congresswoman Ramirez has certified that she, her spouse, and her immediate family have no financial interest in any of the projects she has requested.

Requested Projects

 

3rd Avenue Storm Water Management Project -$4,125,000

• The County of DuPage seeks to upgrade outdated storm sewer systems. Located in the Addison Creek Watershed, more than 20 residential structures adjacent to the 3rd Avenue corridor in unincorporated Bensenville have experienced significant structural flooding for several decades. When the capacity of the current system is exceeded, stormwater begins to back up and fill multiple depressional areas in the neighborhood, flooding streets, and residential structures. Under certain rainfall events, 3rd Avenue adjacent side streets have also overtopped, preventing access of emergency vehicles into the residential area. The existing storm sewer system conveys Addison Creek and is more than 50 years old, nearing the end of its serviceable life and requiring rehabilitation or replacement. Proposed drainage improvements in the subdivision will increase the level of protection from a 5-year flood to a greater than 50-year flood event and increase the estimated service life of the new infrastructure to more than 100 years.
• The entity to receive funding for this project is the County of DuPage located at 421 N County Farm Rd., Wheaton, IL, 60106.
• Click HERE to read the required financial disclosure and federal nexus statement.

 

  Affordable Homeownership Infrastructure and Development Project- $2,571,400

• DuPage Housing Authority is supporting the pre-development needs for a 12-unit single-family affordable townhome community in West Chicago, which will be sited on donated land. This will include gas, electric, water, sewer, and roadways, which are often the most costly and create the most pause in developing affordable housing. Woodland Court will be adaptable to all-electric home solar energy and other energy-saving measures to furnish long-term sustainability for families.  This project will facilitate homeownership for disadvantaged households while increasing the potential to generate additional long-term upward mobility for families in the West Chicago community.
• The entity to receive funding for this project is the DuPage County Housing Authority, located at 711 E Roosevelt Road, Wheaton, IL 60187.
• Click HERE to read the required financial disclosure and federal nexus statement.

 

Bell Park Field House - $3,000,000

• The Chicago Park District seeks to build a new, accessible field house open to the public (approximately 11,000 sq.ft.) with an indoor club room, restrooms, and gymnasium. This field house would provide a community space for the Montclare and Dunning neighborhoods and would increase overall engagement and activities at Bell Park. The project will provide a space for the community to gather and activate public space. Research shows that recreational activities and activation of public spaces decrease the likelihood of neighborhood violence, and a new field house would allow neighbors to utilize Bell Park more fully.
• The entity to receive funding for this project is the Chicago Park District located at  3020 N. Oak Park Ave, Chicago, IL 60634.
• Click HERE to read the required financial disclosure and federal nexus statement.

 

Combined Sewer Overflow and  Sanitary Sewer Overflow Control -$4,010,000

• This project would address the Combined Sewer Overflow and  Sanitary Sewer Overflow Control needs of the Village of Addison. Currently, the Village of Addison has combined water and sewer piping, which creates unsanitary and backup issues for residents and facility operations. This project will update water and sewer infrastructure within Addison to separate water and sewer pipes. This will also improve water quality downstream, where runoff can contaminate Salt Creek and other waterways. Many of the areas most affected are “Environmental Justice Areas” and census blocks with poverty levels over 50%.
• The entity to receive funding for this project is the Village of Addison, located at 1 Friendship Plaza, Addison, IL 60101.
• Click HERE to read the required financial disclosure and federal nexus statement.

 

Goethe Elementary School Playground and Outdoor Facility- $500,000

• The Board of Education of the City of Chicago seeks to enhance the outdoor playspace at Goethe Elementary School, as the area is prone to flooding and has caused injuries to students and neighborhood children. The playspace has long been distressed and dangerous and therefore requires improvements to ensure both Goethe Elementary’s students and Logan Square neighbors can safely use the area.
•  The entity to receive funding for this project is the Chicago Board of Education, located at 2236 N. Rockwell St., Chicago, IL 60647.
• Click HERE to read the required financial disclosure and federal nexus statement.

 

Hanson Park Stadium Renovations- $1,000,000

• The Board of Education of the City of Chicago seeks to build an artificial turf field at Hanson Park Stadium. Incorporating sustainable green infrastructure and spaces in the city of Chicago using artificial turf would benefit the residents of IL-03. The outdoor spaces at Hanson Park are heavily utilized by students from 43 local elementary and high schools and the community for a wide range of activities. Ultimately, the turf field provides multiple benefits to the community both recreationally and ecologically. This project will provide a safe and engaging environment to learn and play which will directly improve outcomes for the 1,144 students of Hanson Park, as well as overall Belmont Cragin families who have no other safe and accessible outdoor space.
• The entity to receive funding for this project is the Chicago Board of Education located at 2233 N Central Ave, Chicago, IL 60647.
• Click HERE to read the required financial disclosure and federal nexus statement.

 

McKee House Native American Cultural and Environmental Center-$2,873,972

• The Village of Glen Ellyn is requesting funding to upgrade and modify the architecturally and historically significant McKee House, located within the DuPage Forest Preserve, into a Native American cultural and educational center. The center will host a library and community spaces to provide education opportunities for local residents of all ages. Additionally, the project will provide economic vitality to the local community and stimulate growth. This project is crucial to enriching residents’ lives, revitalizing the local area, and fostering a vibrant, inclusive community.
• The entity to receive funding for this project is the Village of Glen Ellyn located at 535 Duane Street, Glen Ellyn, IL 60137.  
• Click HERE to read the required financial disclosure and federal nexus statement.

 

Patrick Henry Elementary School Playground and Outdoor Facility- $1,500,000

• The Board of Education of the City of Chicago seeks to enhance Patrick Henry Elementary School’s playground and outdoor facilities. This funding will greatly contribute to the ongoing improvement efforts at the school and assist them in completing the playground project. This park has not received any improvement since 1996 and is currently damaged and unsafe. There is not another public park within a 1-mile radius of Patrick Henry Elementary, so the playground is highly utilized by local families. The project will provide the students of Patrick Henry Elementary with a safe and engaging environment to learn and play, as well as overall Albany Park families who have no other safe and accessible outdoor space for children to play.
• The entity to receive funding for this project is the Chicago Board of Education located at 4250 N Saint Louis Ave, Chicago, IL 60618.
• Click HERE to read the required financial disclosure and federal nexus statement.

 

Residential Group Homes Energy Efficiency Project- $211,364

• The DuPage County Health Department is requesting funding to install electrical solar panels with associated repairs and reconstruction of roofs to multiple residential group homes. Group homes exist to support adults with severe impairment resulting from a mental illness in living as independently as possible in their community. Overall, the project will improve energy efficiency, reduce reliance on carbon-based energy, and lower costs for affected group home residents in the district.
• The entity to receive funding for this project is the DuPage County Health Department, located at 111 N County Farm Rd. Wheaton, IL. 60187. 
• Click HERE to read the required financial disclosure and federal nexus statement.

 

Sanitary Sewer Connection Project -$1,681,920

• Benjamin District 25 is a school district in West Chicago, IL, serving approximately 650 students from PreK to grade 8. The district's boundaries include areas of West Chicago, Carol Stream, and Winfield. Due to its location in unincorporated West Chicago, the district has been utilizing a septic system for waste management since 1954. As a result, significant green space is dedicated as drain fields and is not usable for student or community use. The district desires to connect to a municipal sanitary system to accommodate growing enrollment and facility infrastructure improvements while freeing up precious green space for other purposes.
• The entity to receive funding for this project is Benjamin District 25, located at 28W300 St. Charles Road, West Chicago, IL 60185. 
• Click HERE to read the required financial disclosure and federal nexus statement.

 

Senior Housing Project - $6,000,000

• The City of Chicago Department of Housing seeks to create very low-income senior housing. The project will transform an abandoned historic property into a 61-unit rental building with supportive services for very low-income elderly households. The site is situated within a “priority corridor” for the City of Chicago’s INVEST South/West initiative, a comprehensive economic development program. The site is also in a Qualified Census Tract. The project will revitalize the corner of W. North Avenue and N. Pulaski Road, a former commercial hub in the Humboldt Park neighborhood on the City’s West Side.
• The entity to receive funding for this project is the City of Chicago Department of Housing located at 121 N. LaSalle, Room 1000, Chicago, IL 60602.  
• Click HERE to read the required financial disclosure and federal nexus statement.

 

 Stormwater Improvement Project-$2,000,000

• The Turf, Countryside, and Ranch Area faces stormwater management challenges that have long plagued its residents. To address these issues, a unique and innovative approach has been devised. Rather than using underground stormwater structures, the existing street system will be repurposed as a stormwater conveyance structure. This method involves lowering the street to create a channel for stormwater to flow through the area, ultimately directing it toward Winfield Creek for discharge. This innovative technique showcases a forward-thinking approach to flood mitigation that prioritizes efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and long-term sustainability.
• The entity to receive funding for this project is the City of Wheaton located at 303 W. Wesley St., Wheaton, IL 60187.
• Click HERE to read the required financial disclosure and federal nexus statement.

 

Technology Center of DuPage- $500,000

• The Technology Center of DuPage (TCD) is poised to embark the community and region on a transformative journey to establish an Advanced Manufacturing Hub within its Manufacturing Lab. This initiative aims to revolutionize the lab into a cutting-edge facility that not only serves as an educational center but also functions as a dynamic community manufacturer shop with a clear economic development benefit. By bridging existing high school programs with the College of DuPage and local employers, the Advanced Manufacturing Hub will play a pivotal role as a workforce training center to foster skill development for future manufacturers in the DuPage Region.  The initiative aims to upgrade the equipment of the Manufacturing Lab, establish a vibrant community manufacturer shop to collaborate on real-world projects, forge strong partnerships with stakeholders, develop comprehensive workforce development programs, and engage in community projects that showcase the capabilities of the Advanced Manufacturing Hub and drive economic growth in the region
• The entity to receive funding for this project is the Technology Center of DuPage located at 301 Swift Rd., Addison, IL 60101. 
• Click HERE to read the required financial disclosure and federal nexus statement.

 

VACCC Community Economic Development Center- $2,000,000

• The Veterans Assistance Commission of Cook County (VACCC) is requesting funding to build its first IL-03 center which provides access to recreational facilities, benefits claims support, and social services for veterans and their families. The purpose of this funding request is to acquire and renovate a property to establish a multifunctional satellite office dedicated to serving Veterans in the IL-03 District of Cook County, Illinois. This initiative aims to address the pressing need for improved accessibility to Veteran services by creating a physical presence closer to where Veterans reside. Furthermore, the project seeks to create a space where Veterans can take on leadership roles within their community, leveraging their expertise and understanding of available assistance programs to educate and empower fellow community members. The VACCC plans to expand its staffing to include Veteran services officers specially trained to guide Veterans through various federal, state, and local assistance programs. Expanding the scope of this project beyond Veteran services, the satellite office will extend financial resources and economic opportunities to constituents in IL-03, thereby fostering community development and empowerment.
• The entity to receive funding for this project is the Veterans Assistance Commission of Cook County (VACCC) located at 1100 S. Hamilton Ave. C-011 (Lower Level), Chicago, IL. 60612.
• Click HERE to read the required financial disclosure and federal nexus statement.

 

Wayne Township Powis Road Project -$2,595,000

• Funding is requested to repair and resurface a highly used roadway, adding bike lanes within the Township Road District, which would improve safety and the overall quality of life for residents who use these roads. Motorists use the roadway to travel between two major thoroughfares, and it is also the only entrance to the Pratt Wayne Woods Forest Preserve. 
• The entity to receive funding for this project is Wayne Township Road District, located at 4N230 Klein Rd., West Chicago, IL 60185.
• Click HERE to read the required financial disclosure and federal nexus statement.