FY 2025 Community Project Funding Submissions
Every year, the United States Congress writes and passes 12 appropriations bills, which provide the federal government with the funding it needs to operate. These bills fund a wide range of activities and programs, including government operations, education, medical research, national defense, foreign assistance, infrastructure, and more.
For the past four years, as a part of the annual process, local governments and 501c3 non-profit organizations can also submit Community Project Funding (CPF) requests to their Members of Congress for consideration under 7 of the 12 appropriations bills. CPFs – commonly known as earmarks – are the rare opportunity for Members of Congress to request and designate funding for projects that specifically benefit their own communities and districts (as long as the projects adhere to federal regulations and House and Committee eligibility requirements).
Each Member of Congress can submit up to 15 total CPF requests for FY 2025. As it has been each year since FY 2022, there is no guarantee that any requested projects will be funded. The FY 2025 CPF process has a limited scope with combined Community Projects capped at 0.5% of all discretionary spending.
Below are the 15 projects Congresswoman Jacobs submitted on behalf of California’s 51st District. The requests are listed by the subcommittee to which they were submitted and are otherwise listed in alphabetical order.
Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies
AI-Enabled Robotics for Social Good
Recipient: San Diego State University
Address: 5500 Campanile Drive, San Diego, CA 92182
Amount Requested: $1,000,000
Project Description: The funding would be used to create an inclusive artificial intelligence (AI) programming training center to democratize the use of AI models for social good. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because it will transform the approach to developing trustworthy AI and integrate fundamental societal values in AI-enabled robotics. This application of AI technology is an ambitious innovation that could result in companion and collaborative robots that help us be more productive in any task requiring social intelligence.
Signed financial disclosure and federal nexus letter
I.M.A.G.I.N.E. Afterschool Program
Recipient: Youth Empowerment’s Finest
Address: 4660 El Cajon Boulevard, Suite 205, San Diego, CA 92115
Amount Requested: $2,000,000
Project Description: The funding would be used to serve at-risk and justice-impacted youth in grades 6-12 through daily group mentoring and weekly individual sessions, using evidence-based curricula focused on social-emotional health. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because it strengthens community ties and supports the broader goal of creating a safer, more supportive environment for the youth, ensuring a more promising future for participants and their families, reducing the likelihood of gang involvement, and supporting public safety.
Signed financial disclosure and federal nexus letter
JusticeForward: Empowering Justice-Impacted Students to Drive Change Initiative
Recipient: University of San Diego
Address: 5998 Alcala Park, San Diego, CA 92110
Amount Requested: $927,490
Project Description: The funding would be used to prepare justice-impacted students to move on to careers within the justice system, and to increase the willingness of key stakeholders within the justice system to fully-integrate justice-impacted individuals into their organizations and agencies. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because it will provide pathways for those who are justice-impacted to successfully reintegrate into their communities and create a justice system that is more humane, more equitable, and more effective at increasing public safety.
Signed financial disclosure and federal nexus letter
Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies
El Cerrito & Rolando Park Storm Drain and Green Infrastructure Project
Recipient: City of San Diego
Address: 202 C Street, Floor 11, San Diego, CA 92101
Amount Requested: $5,500,000
Project Description: The funding would be used for replacing deteriorating Corrugated Metal Pipe (CMP) storm drains at the College Avenue and University Avenue intersection and an adjacent residential area with Reinforced Concrete Pipe (RCP). The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because it addresses critical infrastructure needs and delivers long-term benefits in terms of environmental stewardship, regulatory compliance, and community well-being.
Signed financial disclosure and federal nexus letter
Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies
Boulevard Drive Storm Drain Improvement Project
Recipient: City of La Mesa
Address: 8130 Allison Avenue, La Mesa, CA 91942
Amount Requested: $1,500,000
Project Description: The funding would be used for the construction of a 200 foot-long storm drain box culvert and include community enhancements by constructing a parklet. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because it will mitigate further damages from floods that La Mesa experienced in January 2024, and provide much-needed green space for La Mesa residents.
Signed financial disclosure and federal nexus letter
Cajon Valley Community Medical Assistant Program
Recipient: Cajon Valley Union School District
Address: 750 East Main Street, El Cajon, CA 92020
Amount Requested: $885,993
Project Description: The funding would be used to remodel existing school facilities, creating a specialized training center for the health care sector for students within East County San Diego, addressing disparities in health care career access. This project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because it will provide long-term economic and health advantages and work to close the gap between the growing health care job market and availability of trained, culturally competent professionals in the region.
Signed financial disclosure and federal nexus letter
East County Bus Charging Infrastructure
Recipient: San Diego Metropolitan Transit System
Address: 1255 Imperial Avenue, Suite 1000, San Diego, CA 92101
Amount Requested: $5,000,000
Project Description: The funding would be used to redevelop MTS’ East County bus division to accommodate and maintain a fully zero emission bus (ZEB) fleet. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because it enhances the bus fleets that serve historically marginalized low-income and minority communities and will enable the MTS to continue providing vital, clean, and efficient transportation services to communities throughout San Diego County.
Signed financial disclosure and federal nexus letter
Expanding Affordable Child Care Facilities
Recipient: City of San Diego
Address: 202 C Street, Floor 11, San Diego, CA 92101
Amount Requested: $2,000,000
Project Description: The funding would be used for facility improvements and procurement of prefabricated modular structures to house licensed child care on City of San Diego Parks and Recreation space at up to three locations for up to 150 child care spots. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because it advances the implementation of Measure H, approved by City of San Diego voters in 2022, to allow child care on City park and recreational space and address the overall child care scarcity throughout the City.
Signed financial disclosure and federal nexus letter
Lemon Grove Flood Mitigation and Repair
Recipient: City of Lemon Grove
Address: 3232 Main Street, Lemon Grove, CA 91945
Amount Requested: $1,000,000
Project Description: The funding would be used for flood mitigation and repair work in the City of Lemon Grove, including storm drain infrastructure due to severe sinkholes. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because it will repair public facilities that were damaged during January 22, 2024 floods in San Diego County. Additionally, this funding would strengthen local infrastructure to prevent future flooding and erosion during strong storms.
Signed financial disclosure and federal nexus letter
Linda Vista Innovation Center Support
Recipient: San Diego County Office of Education
Address: 6401 Linda Vista Road, San Diego, CA 92111
Amount Requested: $1,500,000
Project Description: The funding would be used to replace windows on the building and redesign classrooms to include interactive components highlighting the San Diego priority sector jobs. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because it provides an opportunity for students to engage with high-paying and high-demand careers, creating a stronger and more diverse future for San Diego’s workforce.
Signed financial disclosure and federal nexus letter
Mobile Washer and Dryer Units for Unhoused San Diegans
Recipient: San Diego Unified School District
Address: 4100 Normal Street, San Diego, CA 92103
Amount Requested: $215,000
Project Description: The funding would be used to transform decommissioned school buses into mobile washer and dryer units to address the hygiene needs of San Diego’s unhoused population. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because it adds to San Diego’s whole-of-government approach to addressing homelessness and creates opportunities for greater economic mobility. In 2023, the federally mandated Point in Time Count found 10,264 people experiencing homelessness in San Diego County, an increase of 14% since 2022.
Signed financial disclosure and federal nexus letter
Safe Sleeping Pilot Program Site Expansion
Recipient: City of San Diego
Address: 202 C Street, Floor 11, San Diego, CA 92101
Amount Requested: $1,500,000
Project Description: The funding would be used for the purchase of facility infrastructure needed to operate these safe sleeping sites as the program expands to additional locations throughout the City of San Diego. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because it adds much-needed shelter options to the City’s growing shelter system, and provides access to restrooms, showers, laundry services, meals, and other housing resources.
Signed financial disclosure and federal nexus letter
San Miguel Elementary Safe Routes to School Infrastructure Improvements
Recipient: City of Lemon Grove
Address: 3232 Main Street, Lemon Grove, CA 91941
Amount Requested: $1,500,000
Project Description: The funding would be used for infrastructure improvements to support the safety and convenience of students walking and biking to school and to local institutions in the area. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because it improves public safety in the Lemon Grove community and establishes healthy habits for local youth.
Signed financial disclosure and federal nexus letter
San Miguel Fire Engine
Recipient: San Miguel Consolidated Fire Protection District
Address: 2850 Via Orange Way, Spring Valley, CA 91978
Amount Requested: $1,075,000
Project Description: The funding would be used for one, type 1 fire engine that will replace an outdated fire apparatus. This new engine would service high-volume areas that depend upon timely responses from first responders. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because it will improve public safety and response times for a community with a high volume of calls, especially as fire season continues to grow in San Diego County.
Signed financial disclosure and federal nexus letter
UC Health Milk Bank Expansion
Recipient: University of California, San Diego
Address: 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093
Amount Requested: $1,860,577
Project Description: The funding would be used to fortify and expand the UC Health Milk Bank to improve the collection, storage, and distribution of donor milk. Additionally, funding will be used to acquire additional space and renovate it to accommodate Milk Bank operations. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because it would expand access to donor milk for vulnerable infants, dramatically decreasing the mortality rates of these children.