Dear Friend,

In Congress, my top priority is to advocate for the communities and residents in our region.  One way that my office can help is by requesting federal funds for local projects to improve our transportation infrastructure, health care facilities, water quality, school facilities, public safety systems and community resources. These projects, when properly planned and executed with full public oversight and transparency, can create jobs and spur economic activity while making vital long term investments in our neighborhoods

My commitment to openness and transparency in the federal appropriations process requires the public disclosure of all information provided by those submiting funding requests for their public works projects.  Requests are limited exclusively to not-for-profit organizations and they are all subject to public input and scrutiny.

Below you can find a complete and annotated list of my submissions to the Appropriations Committee for fiscal year 2011 and links to previous years' submissions and other efforts I'm making to ensure the federal government lives up to my rigorous standards for both transparency and accountability.

Sincerely,

Congressman Mike Quigley

FY 2011 Projects

AGRICULTURE

Wetland Restoration of Addison Creek Site

Recipient: The City of Northlake

Request: $ 1,000,000 from the Natural Resources Conservation Service Watershed/Flood Prevention Operations account.

Description: The purpose of this request is the removal of two low rise dams and built-up silt on Addison Creek, along with wetland restoration for a length of 3/4 of a mile. This is a valuable use of taxpayer funds because it will improve flood control and water quality of the Addison Creek site, a highly urbanized stream.

COMMERCE, JUSTICE, AND SCIENCE

Albany Park Community Center Youth Development Program

Recipient: Albany Park Community Center

Request: $250,000 through the Department of Justice’s Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention account.

Description: Funding will be utilized to provide out-of-school programming to at-risk youth (low income, working-class, immigrant, underserved) ages 12 to 18 to provide the necessary opportunities and support for healthy development and pro-social behavior. This project is a good use of taxpayer dollars because at-risk youth will be provided with the tools to succeed academically and socially.

American Indian Center's Positive Paths Program Expansion

Recipient: American Indian Center

Request: $180,000 through the Department of Justice’s Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention account.

Description: Funding will be used to expand and further develop the American Indian Center's nationally recognized out-of-school program, Positive Paths. This is a good use of taxpayer funds because Positive Paths improves academic success and decreases drop out rates of attending students through tutoring, life-skills mentoring, drug and violence prevention programs, youth leadership training, higher education and career guidance, and family/community engagement that provides a safe environment for youth to grow and thrive.

At-Risk Youth Leadership Training

Recipient: The Chicago Cultural Alliance

Request: $168,000 through the Department of Justice’s Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention account.

Description: The requested funds would support the Chicago Cultural Alliance development of a youth leadership council, which will provide leadership training to at-risk youth from underserved ethnic communities. This is a good use of taxpayer funds because it will develop future leaders in historically underserved communities.

Cook County Reentry Initiative

Recipient: Cook County Sheriff’s Office

Request: $508,750 through the Department of Justice’s Byrne Discretionary Grants account.

Description: Funds will be used to support the Cook County Reentry Initiative, which will link in-jail programs with community-based services providers to reduce the recidivism rate in Cook County. This is a valuable use of taxpayer funds because without reentry support, individuals leaving Cook County Jail are very likely to return to jail at a significant financial and quality of life cost to taxpayers' and the community.

Jumpstart Student Corp Volunteers

Recipient: Jumpstart for Young Children, Inc.

Request: $125,000 through the Department of Justice’s Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention account.

Description: Funds will be used to recruit and train 140 college students to provide individualized language, literacy, social, and emotional support and 42,000 hours of service to 420 preschool children from low-income backgrounds in Head Start and other early learning centers throughout Chicago. The is a good use of taxpayer dollars because it will provide many of Chicago’s underserved preschool children with high-quality early education experiences they need to succeed in kindergarten and beyond.

Lawrence Hall Youth Violence Prevention

Recipient: Lawrence Hall Youth Services

Request: $500,000 through the Department of Justice’s Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention account.

Description: Funding will be used to support Lawrence Hall’s Youth Violence Prevention Program. The students at Lawrence Hall’s school are amongst the highest-risk for engaging in violence. This is a valuable use of taxpayer funds because it will go to help underserved communities. Lawrence Hall serves a population that is predominantly living in economically disadvantaged communities and has a history with family and community violence, gang involvement and other behavioral issues that require special education and behavioral modification services to address violent and aggressive behaviors, emotional disorders, leaning disabilities, and other disorders.

Museum of Science and Industry Explore Exhibit Development

Recipient: Museum of Science and Industry

Request: $2,000,000 through the Department of Commerce’s NASA account.

Description: Funds will be used for the expansion of Museum and Science and Industry’s (MSI) Center for the Advancement of Science Education (CASE), which continues to provide much-needed support to teachers, and reach children in a variety of settings through community initiatives, math and science education, youth development, and teacher professional development. This is a good use of taxpayer funds because the MSI annually welcomes more than 1.5 million guests, and every year 300,000 schoolchildren and teachers are inspired by MSI’s exhibits programs and demonstrations free of charge.

Students in Scientific Fields

Recipient: Chicago Botanic Garden

Request: $250,000 through the Department of Commerce’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration account.

Description: Funds will be used for the expansion of two existing Chicago Botanic Garden programs to support students traditionally underrepresented in scientific fields and to inspire them, as they grow from middle school students though college, to pursue careers in environmental science. This is a valuable use of funds because the program will strengthen critical thinking, increase exposure to scientific method, build familiarity with ecology and biology, explore careers, and identify science learning with positive self-image.

Village of Franklin Park Police Department Facilities Enhancements

Recipient: Village of Franklin Park Police Department

Request: $596,000 through the Department of Justice’s Byrne Discretionary Grants account.

Description: Funds will be used to purchase and update necessary equipment that is essential to the successful day-to-day operations of the Village of Franklin Park Police Department. This is a good use of taxpayer funds because it will enhance and increase the ability of the Franklin Park Police Department to engage in crucial public safety activities.

Village of Melrose Park Police Department Wireless Surveillance System

Recipient: Village of Melrose Park Police Department

Request: $1,000,000 through the Department of Justice’s COPS Law Enforcement Technology and Interoperable Communications account.

Description: The installation of a Comprehensive Wireless Surveillance System will afford our police officers state-of-the-art “real time information” technology to monitor and fight crime in our community and protect our residents. This 21st century technology to protect our children, residents, and commuters who shop in Melrose Park’s shopping centers, patronize the numerous multi-cultural restaurants, and frequent the ten-screen movie theater.

Violence Prevention and Youth Leadership Program
Recipient: Uhlich Children's Advantage Network (UCAN)
Request: $300,000 through the Department of Justice’s Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention account.
Description: This money would be used for Uhlich Children's Advantage Network (UCAN). UCAN’s mission is to build strong youth and families through compassionate healing, education and empowerment.  The School and Community Based Violence Prevention Program is a peer mentoring and leadership training program designed to empower young people to choose alternatives to violence and to publicly advocate for violence prevention solutions. UCAN will serve Senn, Steinmetz and Sullivan High Schools and Lovett, Herbert, Lewis and Gale Elementary Schools.

DEFENSE

Construct TrustTable Initiative

Recipient: Columbia College Chicago

Request: $4,000,000 through the Department of Defense’s Army Research, Development, Test and Evaluation account.
Description: Funds with be use for the development, creation, and implementation of a portable tabletop system that can intelligently assess and improve the data and intelligence gathered from military meetings. This is a valuable use of taxpayer funds because it will help equip DoD with tools that can help determine if intelligence gathered from meetings is factual.

ENERGY AND WATER

Franklin Park Infrastructure Enhancements

Recipient: Village of Franklin Park

Request: $ 950,000 through the Department of Energy’s Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy account.

Description: Funding will be used for modernization, improvements, and acquisition of energy efficient infrastructure needs for Franklin Park. In order to reduce Village dependence on outside energy sources, reduce emissions, and support energy conservation throughout the community, Franklin Park will implement energy efficiency improvements in a minimum of seven municipal buildings. This is a good use of taxpayer funds because it will reduce Franklin Parks’ reliance on outside energy sources, reduce emissions, generate off-grid electricity sources, and will result in a healthier work environment for the Village's 200 employees.

Garvy Elementary Solar Panel Construction and Installation

Recipient: Chicago Public Schools

Request: $ 120,000 through the Department of Energy’s Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy account.

Description: Funding will be used to install solar photovoltaic panels, data systems, and educational components at Garvy Elementary School. This project is a good use of taxpayer funds because it will reduce reliance on non-renewable fuel, create ongoing energy savings, reduce contribution to climate change, and support Garvy's educational goals to prepare students for success in the 21st Century while promoting the national goals of energy security through reliable, clean, and affordable energy while promoting scientific discovery and innovation.

Green Campus Lighting

Recipient: Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center

Request: $881,250 through the Department of Energy’s Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy account.

Description: Funds will be used to upgrade and retrofit Illinois Masonic Medical Centers public parking garage and outdoor campus with LED lighting. This is a valuable use of taxpayer funds because it will significantly decrease energy consumption and reduce facility operational costs that will translate to an increase in patient services and care.

McCook and Thornton Reservoirs, IL

Recipient: Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago

Request: $40,000,000 through the Corps of Engineer’s General Construction account.

Description: These Reservoirs are a key component of the Army Corps of Engineers’ Chicagoland Underflow Plan (CUP), the flood control element of the District’s Tunnel and Reservoir Plan (TARP). TARP, approved by the USEPA and the Illinois EPA, is a long-term control plan to address sewer overflow discharge for Chicago and its 51 surrounding communities to meet the goals of the Clean Water Act. It is comprehensive in achieving both flood damage reductions and pollution control benefits via the conveyance and storage provided in tunnels and storage reservoirs. Once completed the project will provide more than $130 million per year in benefits to over 3 million Illinois residents and will protect over 1.3 million structures from flooding.

FINANCIAL SERVICES

Chicago House Jobs Program

Recipient: Chicago House and Social Service Agency

Request: $400,000 through the Small Business Administration.

Description: Funding will be used to expand the Chicago House's transitional jobs program. Since 1985, Chicago House has provided housing and support services to over 1,000 men, women, and children affected by both HIV/AIDs and unstable housing/homelessness. This is a good use of funds because the Chicago House will be able to expand their jobs program to give even more people the skills to move into the workforce.

I.C. Stars Technology, Leadership and Business Training Program

Recipient: I.C. Stars

Request: $20,000 through the Small Business Administration.

Description: The purpose of funding is to support i.c.stars' technology, leadership, and business training program. Using project-based learning and full immersion teaching, i.c.stars provides an opportunity for change-driven, future leaders to develop skills in business and technology. Each graduate carries into the marketplace outstanding business and technical training, along with his or her own story of overcoming limitations and the confidence that comes from true life-change. This is a valuable use of taxpayer funds because technical and business job training will provide opportunities to break the cycle of poverty that limits inner-city youth.

Young Women’s Technology and Entrepreneurship Initiative

Recipient: Columbia College Chicago

Request: $700,000 through the Small Business Administration.

Description: The purpose of these funds would be to create an after school and summer program for lower income and technologically underserved young women drawn from the diverse urban neighborhoods of Chicago, to research and develop technology-intensive business ideas. This is a valuable use of taxpayer funds because it will increase their technological fluency and business acumen, arming these young women with the skills necessary to find success on the frontiers of new small business development in the 21st century.

INTERIOR AND ENVIRONMENT

City of Northlake Water Main Replacement

Recipient: City of Northlake

Request: $750,000 through the EPA’s STAG account.

Description: The City of Northlake’s existing pipes are nearly 75 years old, deteriorating and undersized by today’s standards. This request will help the Northlake’s Water Reliability Program replace the City’s 4 inch cast-iron water mains with 8 inch ductile-iron mains, the current industry standard. Existing 4 inch pipes do not allow sufficient volume and flow to serve present needs, plus corrosion and sediment accumulation over the years has reduced water quality. By upgrading to 8 inch main both water flow and pressure will increase, as will fire safety. Replacing the outdated mains makes fiscal sense because it will reduce system failures and cut down on maintenance costs. Fewer water main breaks will result in a decreased likelihood of water contamination and is a step towards protecting the health of Northlake’s residents.

Lincoln Park Zoological Society

Recipient: Lincoln Park Zoological Society

Request: $500,000 through the EPA’s STAG.

Description: The Historic South Pond offers one of the Chicago area's primary opportunities for the community and visitors to experience and learn about the area's natural ecology. The South Pond, which is currently in a state of dangerous disrepair, is being transformed into a nature boardwalk at the Lincoln Park Zoo. This request will rehabilitate the South Pond back to its original ecological state, it will enhance the surrounding area, and provide beneficial environmental education to visitors and residence of the Chicago area.

Westbrook Storm Sewer Improvements

Recipient: Village of Franklin Park

Request: $500,000 from the EPA’s STAG account.

Description: The Village of Franklin Park completed a study of the Scott Street Basin in March of 2001 and found that the entire basin of 362 homes is subject to sewer backups due to the undersized combined sewers. The residents in the basin were experiencing 20 or more backups per year. The damage sustained on an annual basis was approximated to be $150,000. The Village has currently invested $3,000,000 in completing two phases of the project to address the problem. This request will help fund the third and final phase of the project – the construction of storm sewers on Westbrook Drive. Once Westbrook is completed, the potential of the creek backing-up into the now separated sewers is negligible and the sewers have the capacity to carry both the storm and sanitary flows during rain events exceeding the 10-year rain event. The reduction of sewer backups has already been significant with the construction of the first two phases and completing this last phase would alleviate a long standing problem.

LABOR, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICE, EDUCATION

Recipient: Cambodian Association of Illinois

Request: $150,000 through the Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration account.

Description: Funds will be used to support a Chicago-based immigrant/refugee employment-training program that provides job placement, workforce literacy instruction and computer training to over 200 unemployed adults. This is a good use of taxpayer funds because the program is essential to moving immigrants from survival to self-sufficiency via work experience at a taxpayer cost per placement of less than $500 per person.

Education to Success: Adult Education Program

Recipient: Roosevelt University

Request: $269,000 through the through Department of Education’s FIPSE account.

Description: Funds will be used to implement the Education to Success: Adult Education Program, which offers a bachelor's degree program to academically qualified inmates at three Illinois correctional centers. This is a valuable use of taxpayer funds because the program helps with rehabilitation and reentry. Through formulas such as the economic multiplier effect, it has been determined that the resulting cost savings to Illinois taxpayers is approximately $36,000 per individual that goes through the program.

Generator Replacement/ Upgrade
Recipient: Swedish Covenant Hospital

Request: $2,000,000 through the Health and Human Service’s HRSA account.
Description: This request would replace a 30-year-old obsolete generator and the automatic transfer switches and service entrance switchboards that support and operate it. In a very short time frame, Swedish will no longer be able to order parts for the equipment, nor will they be able to service them. These units are the primary back-up source for electricity in the event of a power outage or major area disaster. Specifically, these generator units are the back-up source for power that provides electricity for the intensive care units, patient rooms and operating theaters. In the event of a disaster, these generators will save lives. Additionally, this request would allow Swedish to undertake fire alarm upgrades.

Haymarket Center Ex-Offender Recovery Home

Recipient: North River Commission, located at 3403 W. Lawrence Ave, Chicago, IL 60625

Request: $500,000 through the Health and Human Service’s SAMHSA account.

Description: Funding will be used to launch a recovery home for ex-offenders with enhanced supportive services that strengthen their early recovery and help them make a successful transition back to the community and thereby reduce recidivism in Chicago. This is a good use of taxpayer funds because it will allow counselors to provide enhanced, culturally responsive intensive outpatient treatment to parolees residing in the recovery home. The program will incorporate SAMHSA-recognized practices that are shown to decrease recidivism among criminal offenders by increasing moral reasoning.

Melrose Park Public Library Technology Expansion

Recipient: Melrose Park Public Library

Request: $175,715 through the Institute of Museum & Library Services account.

Description: Funding will be used to purchase new computers, high speed broadband access, patron-directed technology, and wireless connectivity, along with the software and maintenance to for sustaining this program. This is a valuable use of taxpayer funds that would be used to support a vital service at the Melrose Park Public Library, which is utilized by a diverse, working class community. Every day hundreds of patrons of all ages visit the library to access the technological resources they need in order to improve their English language skills, complete homework assignments, and conduct job searches. The technology resources at the Melrose Park library provide an essential educational and employment resource that serves people of all ages and backgrounds, and enables the community to overcome the digital divide by providing free technological access and the guidance to use it.

Nettelhort School Science Lab Upgrades

Recipient: Nettelhorst Community Group

Request: $104,018 through the Department of Education’s Elementary & Secondary Education account.

Description: Funding will allow renovation of an outdated science laboratory, complementing greater efforts improve science instruction at the school. This is a valuable use of taxpayer funds because the lab will be with be the focal point of science curriculum at Nettelhorst School. The administration has set a goal of 90% of students meeting or exceeding expectations in science on the annual ISAT assessment.

New Beginnings Program Expansion

Recipient: Resurrection Health Care

Request: $180,000 through the Health and Human Service’s HRSA account.

Description: Funds will be used to expand the New Beginnings program to provide underserved pregnant women with the highest level of prenatal care. This is a valuable use of taxpayer funds because it will help low-income, underinsured and uninsured women deliver healthy babies and result in fewer pre-term births and low-birth weight infants in the community.

Polish American Association Senior Services Program

Recipient: Polish American Association

Request: $ 76,650 through Health and Human Service’s Administration on Aging account.

Description: Funding will be used to support the Polish American Association's Senior Services Program. This is a valuable of taxpayer funds because the Senior Service program is dedicated to enrich the quality of life of economically disadvantaged, isolated, elderly Poles living in Chicago metropolitan area by facilitating their access to needed resources and services, providing counseling, supportive services and opportunities for socialization. According to the 2000 U.S. Census Report there are 17,416 elderly Poles in Chicago and one third of them live close to or below the poverty line and struggle daily to secure basic necessities such as food and medicine. Many of them have limited English speaking skills, live alone and have little or no contact with family or friends, and many of them cannot access the services that would provide them with much needed relief.

Professional Development Schools Establishment

Recipient: Northeastern Illinois University

Request: $300,000 the Department of Education’s Higher Education account.

Description: Funding will be used to o establish four Professional Development Schools, linking four Chicago Public Schools and the College of Education at Northeastern Illinois University. This is a good use of taxpayer funds because it will allow Northeastern Illinois University to prepare future teachers for the Chicago and metropolitan area and provide continuing professional development for current teachers. Funding will allow for the developing pedagogy for training teachers for urban education and strengthen the pipeline for students from inner city schools to higher education.

Ruth M. Rothstein CORE Center HIV Screening Expansion

Recipient: Cook County, Illinois

Request: $1,500,000 through Health and Human Service’s Center for Disease Control and Prevention account.

Description: Funding would be used to increase screening for HIV-positive patients at the Ruth M. Rothstein CORE Center in Chicago, Illinois. This is a valuable use of taxpayer funds because expanded testing will result in earlier diagnosis for individuals who are HIV-positive. Those who learn they are HIV-positive have more treatment options and lower their risk of transmitting this disease to others.

Veteran Support Program

Recipient: Albany Park Community Center

Request: $250,000 through Health and Human Service’s HRSA account.

Description: Funding will be used for a veteran support program to provide a support network to help newly released, disabled, low-skilled and low-income veterans establish a career path leading to self-sufficiency. This is a valuable use of taxpayer funds because Albany Park Community Center is the only organization in the area that offers one-on-one attention to veteran job seekers and provides wrap-around services addressing their employment needs that helps establish a path to self-sufficiency.

Waters Elementary School Ecology

Recipient: Waters Today

Request: $150,000 through the Department of Education’s Elementary & Secondary Education account.

Description: Waters Elementary (a Chicago Public School) serves 500 students, the majority of which are minority and low-income. The school’s population has roughly doubled in the past three years, simultaneously facing deep budget cuts. One of the programs at high risk is the Waters School Ecology Program. Funds would be used to continue Waters Student Ecology Program, a program that teaches students and local resident’s ecology, the importance of environmental responsibility, and caring for the community.

Wounded Warriors Spinal Cord Injury Research

Recipient: Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago

Request: $700,000 through the through Health and Human Service’s HRSA account.

Description: Funding will be used to perform clinical research designed to restore walking ability in wounded warriors and veterans who have suffered a spinal cord injury. This is a good use of taxpayer funds because the proposed study will test the effects of a combination of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and walking training injury on recovery of strength and stepping ability and could potentially alter the treatment and recovery of our nation’s heroes

Youth Psychiatric Services Facility Expansion

Recipient: Children’s Memorial Hospital

Request: $1,800,000 through Health and Human Service’s HRSA account.

Description: Funding will be used to increase access to child and adolescent psychiatric services at Children’s Memorial Lincoln Park site. This is a good use of taxpayer funds because with the expansion of outpatient services at Children’s more specialists will be attracted to the area and local patients will have great access to pediatric psychiatric specialists and services

TRANSPORTATION, HOUSING, AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

Albany Park Community Transit Oriented Development Study

Recipient: North River Commission

Request: $125,000 through the Housing and Urban Development’s Economic Development Initiatives account.
Description: Funds would allow the North River Commission, in partnership with the CTA, conduct a feasibility study of a Transit Oriented Development (TOD) at the Kimball Brown station. The feasibility study would include a mix use TOD development with 25,000 square feet for retail, commerce, and public parking spaces at Kimball and Lawrence Avenue within the Albany Park community. This is a valuable use of funds because the project, if complete, would provide a new source of revenue for the CTA and add value to the community.

Chicago Park District Playlot Rehab

Recipient: Chicago Park District

Request: $3,000,000 through the Housing and Urban Development’s Economic Development Initiatives account.

Description: Funds will be used to increase the number of playlots the Chicago Park District is able to rehab. Of the 521 playlots, 362 need major updates ranging from new equipment to making a playlot ADA compliant. Making playlots more accessible is a good use of taxpayer funds because it a sound investment in local neighborhoods, promotes community, and falls in line with the national goal of increasing activity and fighting childhood obesity.

Clark Park Expansion

Recipient: Chicago Park District

Request: $700,000 through the Housing and Urban Development’s Economic Development Initiatives account.

Description: Funds will be used for riparian improvements, riverside forest restoration, in the expansion of Clark Park. This is a valuable use of taxpayer funds because once completed it will be a centerpiece for the community and will provide a healthy environment for all people to enjoy.

CTA Red Line Rehabilitation

Recipient: Chicago Transit Authority

Request: $10,000,000 through the FHWA’s Transportation & Community & System Preservation account.

Description: This project will rebuild and rehabilitate an existing heavy rail corridor from the vicinity of Addison Station to the vicinity of Linden Station, including portions of the Red and Purple lines. This is a valuable use of funds because it will update and upgrade a crucial community asset while improving customer access, safety, comfort, and convenience; improved transit service and ridership; continued safe and secure operations; modernization of infrastructure and stations; and increased ease of maintenance.

Kovler Lion Habitat Improvements

Recipient: Lincoln Park Zoo

Request: $500,000 through the Housing and Urban Development’s Economic Development Initiatives account.

Description: Funding will be used to improve visitor engagement and safety in the exhibits at Lincoln Park Zoo’s Kovler Lion Habitat. This is a valuable use of funds because the Kovler Lion Habitat is a central feature at the zoo and figures prominently in its education programs. Renovations would include improved habitat and space for the animals, increase visibility by the visitors and school groups, and improve safety for the animals, visitors, and animal care staff.

Lakeview Pantry Food Distribution Program

Recipient: Lakeview Pantry

Request: $1,000,000 through the Housing and Urban Development’s Economic Development Initiatives account.

Description: Funding will be used to support food distribution programs of Lakeview Panty by purchasing food and necessary equipment. This a valuable use of funds because it will allow Lakeview Panty to provide clients with produce, meats, and other high-cost items and allows them to use food stamps, or regular income, in the most effective way possible.

Lincoln Park Zoological Society Environmental Education Center

Recipient: Lincoln Park Zoo

Request: $1,000,000 through the Housing and Urban Development’s Economic Development Initiatives account.
Description: Funding will be used for the redevelopment and enhancement of the Nature Boardwalk Outdoor Environmental Education Center at the South Pound of the Lincoln Park Zoo. This is a valuable use of funds because the restoration project will transform one of the most visited areas of Chicago’s lakefront from a deteriorating urban park into a beautiful nature and education center to serve the people of Chicago and the entire region.

Old Town School of Folk Music Cultural Facility Construction

Recipient: Old Town School of Folk Music

Request: $1,000,000 through the Housing and Urban Development’s Economic Development Initiatives account.
Description: Funding will be used towards the construction a LEED-certified, arts education facility that will serve a broad range of constituents with new dance studios, state of the art classrooms, community gathering spaces, and features to serve diverse population. This is a valuable use of funds because it will allow the Old Town School of Folk Music to continue to keep the neighborhood's economy strong and created hundreds of secure jobs, while providing and educational service to Chicago’s diverse communities.

Pace Paratransit Vehicle Fleet Expansion

Recipient: Pace

Request: $960,000 through the Federal Transit Authority’s Bus and Bus Facilities account.

Description: Pace provides federally mandated ADA paratransit service to the disabled in Chicago. This funding will help Chicago acquire enough vehicles to serve the area. With a complete fleet, the total operating cost of the Chicago paratransit service would decrease significantly.

Positive Train Control Implementation

Recipient: Metra

Request: $10,000,000 total through the Federal Railroad Administration. $3,000,000 through the FRA’s R&D account and $7,000,000 through the Railroad Safety and Technology Program account.

Description: Funds will be used to implement an interoperable Positive Train Control system with Metra and its freight partners. Northeastern Illinois is a major rail hub served by six Class I railroads, as well as Amtrak and Metra, the nation’s largest commuter rail system in terms of geographic service area. This is a valuable use of funds because implementation of Positive Train Control will be crucial to ensure interoperability and safety of commuter and freight railroads.

Read-Dunning Conservation District Restoration

Recipient: City of Chicago

Request: $1,500,000 through the Housing and Urban Development’s Economic Development Initiatives account.

Description: Funding will be used to restore the Read-Dunning Conservation District to its original ecological state and provide a link between the conservation area and newly constructed veterans’ residential facility. This is a valuable use of taxpayer funds because it will provide a healthy environment for all people to enjoy.

Veterans Housing Expansion

Recipient: City of Chicago

Request: $1,000,000 through the Housing and Urban Development’s Economic Development Initiatives account.

Description: The City of Chicago has older housing stock that does not easily lend itself to wheelchair accessibility. Most of the single family homes and rental housing in the city were built in the 1900 – 1930’s where stairs – either on the exterior of the building or inside – are commonplace. Funds will be used to convert ideal unused space to housing for veterans. This is a valuable use of funds because it will make Chicago’s housing stock more accesbile, with priority put on disabled veterans. In this proposed pilot program, Chicago would leverage additional resources through the Chicago Low Income Housing Trust Fund and local partners.

FY 2010 Projects

To view a comprehensive list of Congressman Quigley's efforts to highlight open government and improve transparency, click here. 

Other Transparency Efforts

You can find a list of Congressman Quigley's FY2010 Appropriations requests here.