Congressman Casten brings home $14 million to help district on climate change, hunger, transportation and domestic abuse survivor

6th District Congressman Sean Casten secures over $14 million in local funding to combat climate crisis, address hunger, improve transportation, protect domestic abuse survivors. Being able to work with other officials and leaders shows how benefits can come to district, observers said

The U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday (July 20, 2022) passed a six-bill appropriations minibus that includes $14,000,000 in federal funding for nine of Congressman Sean Casten (IL-06)’s community project funding proposals, which will now advance to the Senate. The projects will provide housing to victims of domestic abuse, address local hunger and create jobs, combat the climate crisis, improve local infrastructure, and more.

Congressman Casten expects the five other community project funding proposals he has advocated for to pass through the House in coming months as Congress considers the remaining six appropriations bills.

“I’m proud to have secured this funding for projects that will do so much to improve the lives of folks in Chicagoland, and I will continue working to see them pass through the Senate,” said Rep. Sean Casten. “From helping survivors of domestic abuse and addressing hunger to electrifying our local school buses and cleaning our air and drinking water, these projects will do so much for our community.

Earlier this year, Casten delivered nearly $8 million in federal funding for 10 community projects to benefit IL-06 and the Chicagoland community–including affordable housing and mental health services for LGBTQ+ youth at 360 Youth Services, and academic support programs to target learning loss due to COVID-19 at the Boys and Girls Club of East Dundee.

Projects championed by Rep. Casten that passed the House today include:

City of West Chicago: $2 million to be used for remediation of the Kerr-McGee Superfund, one of four Superfund National Priorities List sites in the West Chicago area that had been contaminated with radioactive thorium wastes.

“The City of West Chicago owes Representative Casten and his team an enormous debt of gratitude for their continued advocacy on our behalf, and for their dedication towards securing funding to transform a soon to be former Superfund site into a state-of-the-art park for all our community members to enjoy. This is a fitting end to this cleanup that has plagued West Chicago for decades, and we cannot thank them enough for their continued support of West Chicago residents. ” said West Chicago Mayor Ruben Pineda

Cooperative Development Fund of CDS / Prairie Food Coop: $847,000 in funding would be used to fill the funding gap for the Prairie Food Co-op. This project will revitalize the economy, support the growth of local microbusinesses, and create $1.5 million in revenues for local agriculture and local food businesses. This capital investment will construct and equip DuPage County’s first community owned grocery, which will fulfill the objectives of the committee by: – creating 50-80 living wage jobs with opportunities for advancement and comprehensive – benefits, – creating steady income streams for over 300 local urban, suburban and rural Illinois farmers and producers – generating $13M in economic activity, and – stimulating the creation of 8-12 micro-businesses.

“Prairie Food Co-op is thrilled that Congressman Casten has selected our project for funding. Our mission to support local farmers and food producers as a full-service grocery store, owned by the community, gives food producers opportunities to innovate and diversify how their products reach the market. Illinois has some of the richest farmland in the world yet only 5% of the foods eaten in Illinois are grown in Illinois. The Co-op’s mission to source goods locally improves food security, building capacity for a more resilient community.” said Kathy Nash, President, Prairie Food Co-op

DuPage County: $1.5 million to fund preliminary engineering for a 4-mile section of the East Branch DuPage River Trail, to improve safety by connecting trail users (pedestrians, bicyclists, runners, etc.) from various communities and existing Illinois Prairie Path and Great Western Trails to local and reginal attractions including downtowns, DuPage County Forest Preserves, parks, Morton Arboretum and ultimately to destinations in neighboring counties.

DuPage County Board Chairman Dan Cronin said “The development of the East Branch DuPage River Trail is an important community project. The COVID pandemic highlighted our residents’ desire to pursue healthy lifestyles that include trails for walkers, cyclists, joggers and families spending time outdoors together. This proposed new north-south trail segment has already drawn widespread public support both within and outside DuPage County. It will enhance the quality of life for all users for decades to come.”

Earlier this year, after Congressman Casten hiked the East Branch DuPage River Trail to meet with local Glen Ellyn officials and discuss the community’s needs, Casten immediately began working to secure the necessary funding for DuPage’s River Train improvement project. View photos from the visit here.

Forest Preserve District of DuPage County: $2 million for the construction of a wildlife rehabilitation clinic and visitor center, transforming wildlife care at the center and making it the District’s first net-zero building.

“Thank you, Representative Sean Casten, for including our community project in your appropriations request. Our Willowbrook Wildlife Center project will help us accomplish our wildlife rehabilitation mission in line with best practices, serving our local ecosystems and residents better, and we have planned the project with environmental sustainability in mind, so important as we all do our part to address climate change. Support for this project beyond our local tax base is appropriate given the regional and national impact of Willowbrook in the wildlife rehabilitation field.” said President Daniel Hebreard, Forest Preserve District of DuPage County.

Pace Suburban Bus: $1 million to buy five new battery-electric paratransit buses to lower costs and combat climate change.

“On behalf of the thousands of daily Pace riders and residents in northern Kane County, we thank Congressman Casten for his support for funding for electric paratransit vehicles,” said Pace Executive Director Melinda J. Metzger. “As Pace makes our transition to a fully zero-emission fleet, this funding will be critical to expediting that transition and helping to reduce pollution in the Elgin area. As we do our part to mitigate climate change, we appreciate the support of that effort.”

Village of Hawthorn Woods: $1.5 million used to fund a utilities extension to serve an underserved population currently on well and septic systems.

“The Village of Hawthorn Woods is extremely grateful for the consideration of funding, as this financial assistance will have a direct result in creating an immediate economic opportunity to a portion of our town without any modern utility service. Creating water and sewer services will open the door to responsible development of land that will create additional jobs, commerce, and vitality to an underserved area in the region.” said Pamela Newton, Chief Operating Officer, Village of Hawthorn Woods.

Wheaton Sanitary District: $2,655,400 to be used for Secondary Clarifier Upgrades that will include the installation of new mixed liquor piping (to alleviate hydraulic bottlenecking & flat watering), a new splitter structure, replacement of all clarifier mechanisms and components, and modifications to the sludge conveyance system to allow for increased return flows.

“The Wheaton Sanitary District appreciates Congressman Casten selecting our Secondary Clarifier Upgrades Project to receive Community Project Funding support. This project will benefit the customers of Wheaton Sanitary District in two specific ways – first by continuing to keep sewer bills low, and secondly by improving water quality. This project support by Congressman Casten furthers the Wheaton Sanitary District’s mission of ‘Efficiently and Cost-effectively Protecting Public Health and Preserving the Environment.’” Matt Larson, Executive Director, Wheaton Sanitary District.

B.R. Ryall YMCA of Northwestern DuPage County: $2 million in funding that would be used to repurpose, modernize, and expand program spaces. Specifically, the funds will be used to increase affordable infant/toddler care; ADA accessibility; and teen-focused areas for STEAM learning, health, and social programs.

“On behalf of the B.R. Ryall YMCA, we are so grateful that Congressman Casten recognized the importance and value of our community funding project request to repurpose, modernize and expand program spaces within our Y. Thanks to the Congressman’s efforts and support, this potential funding will allow us to address significant community-identified needs to create additional space for affordable infant and toddler child care; improve ADA accessibility in our facility; and create teen-focused areas for STEAM learning, health and social programming.” said Rob Wilkinson CEO, B. R. Ryall YMCA of Northwestern DuPage County.

In March, Casten paid a visit to the B.R. Ryall YMCA to tour the facilities, discuss affordable quality child care and teen mental health in the community, and meet with the Bright Beginnings Preschool class–which inspired him to advocate for the YMCA program to receive funding. View photos and video from the visit here.

City of Wheaton: $750,000 to be used for the rehabilitation of the City of Wheaton’s public library.

“I want to thank Representative Casten for assisting the City of Wheaton in acquiring this grant to restore and expand the Wheaton Public Library’s West Plaza. Today’s libraries are an important connection point for residents, community groups, schools, businesses and families. This project will not only enhance the plaza’s physical space, but it will also expand the types of programs and opportunities our library can provide for the community.” – Philip J Suess, Mayor of Wheaton.

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Ray Hanania is an award-winning opinion columnist, author & former Chicago City Hall reporter (1977-1992). A veteran who served during the Vietnam War and the recipient of four SPJ Peter Lisagor Awards for column writing, Hanania writes weekly opinion columns on mainstream American & Chicagoland topics for the Southwest News-Herald, Des Plaines Valley News, the Regional News, The Reporter Newspapers, and Suburban Chicagoland.

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