July 08, 2024

Congressman Castro Secures $11.7 Million for San Antonio Community Projects in FY2025 Federal Appropriations Bills

SAN ANTONIO — Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) announced that his office has secured approval from the U.S. House Appropriations Committee for $11,718,000 in federal funding to support fifteen San Antonio community projects. If passed by the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate and signed into law, the funding will support projects including real-time monitoring to improve air quality on the Westside, revitalization projects focused on Woodlawn Lake and Monterrey Park, improvements to emergency response services, and new resources to help law enforcement solve cold cases, homicides, and sexual assaults.

“Over the last three years, my office has been proud to work with community organizations in San Antonio to get nearly $40 million in federal funding for high-need community projects. When this funding is signed into law, it will make an impact across our city – revitalizing local parks and community centers, expanding youth mentoring programs, helping local law enforcement solve cold cases, and more. I’m excited that all fifteen projects submitted by my office received initial approval and I look forward to working with my colleagues to get this year’s community project funding across the finish line,” said Congressman Castro.  

In 2021, Congress launched the community project funding process to provide an avenue for members to request direct federal funding to support community-driven initiatives in their districts. To be eligible for consideration, projects must have demonstrated community support and members must certify that neither they nor their immediate family members have a financial interest in the funding. Congressman Castro’s previous community projects can be found here (FY2024), here (FY2023) and here (FY2022).

The community project requests submitted by Congressman Castro and advanced by the House Appropriations Committee include:

Parks, Conservation, and Environmental Protection

Westside Environmental Sensor Tracking and Information Reporting (Southwest Research Institute)
This funding will support a pilot program to place ozone, PM 2.5, and other sensors around the Historic Westside. These sensors will be networked so their data can be aggregated and analyzed in real time by researchers, healthcare workers, and the residents of San Antonio. The Westside Environmental Sensor Tracking and Information Reporting (WESTAIR) Project will allow for real-time ozone and PM 2.5 levels to be accessed at the hyperlocal level and will also provide researchers with data needed to analyze various trends.
Funding approved by the House Appropriations Committee: $1,000,000

Tracking Waterborne Microbial Contaminants of Concern in Bexar County (Texas A&M University-San Antonio)
This funding will support research to detect new and emerging pathogenic threats, and antibiotic resistance genes through wastewater surveillance. It will also extend the analysis to include surface and aquifer water.
Funding approved by the House Appropriations Committee: $1,000,000

Monterrey Park Lighting and Public Facilities Improvements (City of San Antonio)
The funding will be used to improve lighting and other public facility improvements, including the construction of permanent restrooms on-site. These renovations will enhance safety and usability for everyone, including elderly individuals, parents with strollers, and others.
Funding approved by the House Appropriations Committee: $550,000

Woodlawn Lake Restoration Project (San Antonio River Authority)
The funding will support efforts to improve the water quality of Woodlawn Lake by filtering stormwater runoff through wetlands with native vegetation, controlling erosion of the lake bank, and creating floating wetlands near stormwater inflow points.
Funding approved by the House Appropriations Committee: $100,000

Housing

Project Uplift (San Antonio Water System)
The funding will be used to repair water leaks in low- and middle-income houses in San Antonio and the 20th District of Texas.
Funding approved by the House Appropriations Committee: $2,000,000

Roof Replacement in Public Housing (Housing Authority of the City of San Antonio)
This funding will support comprehensive roof replacement at five Public Housing Senior/Disabled communities across the 20th Congressional District of Texas. Roof replacement work will include the removal of all existing roof material, repair of existing roof plywood decking as needed, installation of a new waterproof roof underlayment material applied using high-performance adhesive, installation of a new 30-year architectural shingle product, replacement or repair of fascia and soffits as needed, installation of new ridge vents and gable or soffit venting to provide attic cross-ventilation, new metal drip-edge material, and a new commercial gutter and downspout systems with concrete splash blocks for proper shedding rain runoff.
Funding approved by the House Appropriations Committee: $1,250,000

Public Safety and Community Services

San Antonio Police Department Forensic Genealogy Project (City of San Antonio)
This funding will allow the City of San Antonio and the San Antonio Police Department to use forensic genealogy to analyze evidence connected to homicides and sexual assaults, including cold cases. Through this project, the City of San Antonio will document existing evidence, including from cold cases that go back decades, prepare the evidence for analysis, and work with experts to analyze genetic evidence, hopefully leading to the identification of the perpetrators of these crimes.
Funding approved by the House Appropriations Committee: $1,190,000

Bexar County Emergency Communications Radio Replacement
This funding will allow Bexar County to acquire and upgrade radio communications devices for public entities, including public safety organizations, first responders, and utilities. The funding will ensure that emergency communications are not disrupted and that Bexar County officials can maintain interoperability with other public organizations in San Antonio, including entities affiliated with the City of San Antonio. The funding request includes about 430 critical asset devices that comply with standards for North American digital communications for federal, state, and local public safety organizations, first responders, and utilities.
Funding approved by the House Appropriations Committee: $1,184,000

Community Resiliency Initiative (CPS)
The funding will be used to enhance the energy efficiency of public community centers and to install battery systems to provide energy resiliency to the building during times of emergencies and high-energy demands.
Funding approved by the House Appropriations Committee: $850,000

Mentoring to Reduce Recidivism Among Justice-Involved Youth in Bexar County (Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Texas, Inc.)
This funding will strengthen and build capacity in mentor recruitment efforts at Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Texas (BBBS) to recruit volunteers, match youth more quickly, and retain both youth and volunteers in long, strong mentoring relationships that are proven to reduce juvenile delinquency and reduce the risk of criminal behaviors later in life for at-risk youth. The program aims to prevent juvenile delinquency by building the protective factors youth need to stay out of trouble and engage in productive activities such as school and community engagement. BBBS mentoring program is also proven to mitigate the negative impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) by providing a supportive outlet for positive connection in the lives of youth BBBS sees.
Funding approved by the House Appropriations Committee: $410,000

Mujeres Poderosas: Healing Trauma - From Victim/Survivor to Thriver Program (YWCA San Antonio)
This funding will support case management and stabilization support to women who have escaped from abuse and violence, moving from trauma and surviving to thriving and self-sufficiency. Specifically, it will provide crisis services, professional therapy, and counseling activities using a Trauma Informed Care approach, including intimate partner violence prevention training.
Funding approved by the House Appropriations Committee: $300,000

Community Economic Prosperity Initiative (Alamo Area Council of Governments)
This funding will support a Community Economic Prosperity Initiative that seeks to breathe new life into an existing building in one of the most impoverished zip codes in San Antonio, transforming it into a dynamic hub for economic empowerment and community development. With funding from the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program, AAOCG aims to revitalize this landmark property and catalyze positive change in the surrounding area. At the core of our vision is the creation of a multifunctional space that serves as a nexus for small business support and entrepreneurial innovation. The renovated facility will house a comprehensive suite of resources, including access to capital, technical assistance services, training programs, and incubation space, all tailored to meet the diverse needs of local entrepreneurs.
Funding approved by the House Appropriations Committee: $250,000

Research and Innovation

Research equipment for Our Lady of the Lake University faculty and students to conduct scientific and health research on the West Side of San Antonio
This funding will allow Our Lady of the Lake University to purchase new equipment to assist faculty and students conduct their research. Current equipment limitations at Our Lady of the Lake University limit research and prevent the continuity of research onsite.
Funding approved by the House Appropriations Committee: $1,184,000

Public Transportation

VIA Customer Contact Center (VIA Metropolitan Transit Authority)
This funding will be used to acquire and integrate two call center systems into one and provide centralized training and workflow for more seamless service delivery with the goal of increased customer satisfaction and improved operational cost efficiencies.
Funding approved by the House Appropriations Committee: $250,000

SAT EV Resiliency Master Plan (City of San Antonio)
The funding will be used by the San Antonio International Airport to conduct an EV Resiliency Master Plan in pursuit of overall electrification. The project will support FAA and San Antonio’s efforts to increase fleet electrification which will help reduce emissions and improve air quality.
Funding approved by the House Appropriations Committee: $200,000