Congresswoman Sara Jacobs (CA-53) secured nearly $6 million for six local community projects in San Diego in an appropriations package to fund the federal government last week. These projects were submitted on behalf of local governments and non-profits across the 53rd District, from Murphy Canyon to Chula Vista. Congresswoman Jacobs prioritized projects that center equity and support children in San Diego, including ones addressing the child care crisis and providing greater support for military families. This is the first step in federal funding being directed toward local projects in San Diego and the bill now heads to the Senate for further consideration.
“I’m proud to have secured nearly $6 million for local projects that will help San Diego families get the support they need,” said Congresswoman Sara Jacobs. “For the past year and a half, I’ve been working to use every lever of Congress’s power to support children, center equity, and deliver for every part of the 53rd District. I’m looking forward to working with House leadership and my colleagues in the Senate to get these projects and this much-needed community funding across the finish line.”
Congresswoman Jacobs secured funding for the following local community projects:
San Diego Armed Services YMCA Center for Military Families Infrastructure Improvement Project: A request of $2,024,846.13, submitted on behalf of the Armed Services YMCA of San Diego. The project would support capital improvements to ASYMCASD’s Murphy Canyon campus child care facilities in order to address the severe shortage of reliable, affordable, quality child care for military families.
Municipal Workforce Child Care Pilot Program: A request of $2,000,000, submitted on behalf of the City of San Diego. The project would establish a pilot program to provide full- and part-time employees of the City of San Diego with City-provided child care vouchers, which would help address the region’s child care crisis and help the City attract and retain a talented workforce.
San Diego’s Community Information Exchange: A request of $250,000, submitted on behalf of INFO LINE San Diego (better known as 211 San Diego). The project would allow 211 San Diego – the region’s trusted source for information and connections to community, health, and disaster resources – to expand the community information exchange (CIE) network to train more community navigators and provide ongoing 211 information and referral services. The organization will expand and deepen the level of care coordination and system navigation necessary to assist San Diegans with complex social and health needs.
Summer for All of Us - Come Play Outside Expansion: A request of $800,000, submitted on behalf of the City of San Diego. The project would expand the funding of San Diego’s “Come Play Outside” initiative – creating new opportunities for kids and their families to play safely outside in San Diego’s South and Central neighborhoods by providing aquatics, adventure camp, Teen Nite, and movies in the park in several recreation centers and aquatic centers.
Adulting for High Schoolers: A request of $100,000, submitted on behalf of Sweetwater Union High School District. The project would allow SUHSD to support its students outside the classroom, connecting them to professional adults who can support their socio-emotional needs and creating exploratory pathways for students to pilot various career choices through internships and business partners.
Twin-Engine Firefighting Helicopter: A request of $750,000, submitted on behalf of the County of San Diego. The project would help the County purchase a new twin-engine firefighting helicopter to combat fires in the region, updating the capabilities from the outdated single-engine helicopters currently used for aerial fire protection. This request was jointly submitted by Reps. Jacobs, Peters, Vargas, Levin, and Issa, with the Members collectively securing $3,750,000 for the project.
The FY23 Community Project Funding process followed a similar process reintroduced to the House in FY22, where Members of Congress were permitted to submit funding proposals that would specifically benefit their respective districts and communities. In FY22, Jacobs secured $3 million in Community Project Funding for four San Diego projects, including the San Diego County Child Care Expansion Fund. More information about the eligibility for Community Project Funding and all of Congresswoman Jacobs’ submitted requests can be found here.
