FY'24 Community Project Funding Requests

House Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Kay Granger announced that the House Committee on Appropriations will be accepting Community Project Funding (CPF) requests from Members. This is in addition to the standard programmatic and language-based requests. Each Member is limited to no more than 15 Community Project Funding requests across all subcommittees for Fiscal Year 2024 and there is no guarantee that all requested projects will be funded. The FY2024 CPF process has a limited scope with combined earmarks capped at 1% of all discretionary spending and eligible accounts restricted to those listed in the table below.

Please note:

• Congresswoman Plaskett will NOT accept CPF requests for projects outside of VI-00.
• All projects must meet the relevant statutory and administrative criteria for funding through the grant program under which it is submitted.
• A request submitted to Congresswoman Plaskett does NOT guarantee the project will be selected.
• The selection of a project does NOT guarantee it will be funded by the Appropriations Committee.
• The Committee will NOT provide cost-share waivers and grantees are legally responsible for meeting the non-federal cost share requirements and all other applicable grant criteria.

The deadline for submitting project requests to Congresswoman Plaskett is COB March 20, 2023.

More information on the process can be found on the House Appropriations Committee’s page (https://appropriations.house.gov/fiscal-year-2024-member-request-guidance) here (https://appropriations.house.gov/sites/republicans.appropriations.house.gov/files/FY24%20Comunity%20Project%20Funding%20Guidance.pdf) . Staff may follow up for additional information to support the CPF request such as budget justification, documentation of community support and need, or proof of ability to meet match requirements once an initial request is submitted. If you have any questions about Congresswoman Plaskett’s project submission process, please reach out to Jeffrey.Nowill@mail.house.gov.

Subcommittee/Agency/Account: Agriculture, Rural Development / Department of Agriculture, Rural Development / Rural Utilities Service, Rural Water and Waste Disposal Grants

Project Name: St. Croix Farmers in Action Cisterns

Project Location: 18A Estate Bethlehem, Kingshill, St. Croix, VI 00851

Project Recipient: St. Croix Farmers in Action, Inc. (501(c)(5) non-profit)

Recipient Address: P.O. Box 69, Kingshill, St. Croix, VI 00851

Amount Requested: $3,750,000

Project Description and Explanation: The requested funding would be used by St. Croix Farmers in Action, Inc. to rehabilitate an existing 1-million-gallon cistern and two smaller cisterns on the Bethlehem Sugar Factory Site. This funding is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because it will provide water resources necessary for the success of farmers and businesses. This project would fulfill the needs of farms and businesses whose economic success depends upon water access, and provide a consistent water source for economically disadvantaged farmers who depend on water to maintain farmland. Water resources are of particular concern in the Virgin Islands because the local agricultural community faces challenges associated with harsh drought.

Subcommittee/Agency/Account: Transportation, Housing and Urban Development / Department of Housing and Urban Development / Economic Development Initiative

Project Name: LGOS Revitalization & Rehabilitation

Project Location: #51 King Street, Christiansted, VI 00820

Project Recipient: Lord God of Sabaoth Evangelical Lutheran Church (501(c)(3) non-profit)

Recipient Address: #4 King Street, Christiansted, St. Croix, VI 00820

Amount Requested: $2,500,000

Project Description and Explanation: The requested funding would be used by the non-profit Lord God of Sabaoth Evangelical Lutheran Church to improve and rehabilitate three real properties held by the Church within the city center of Christiansted, St. Croix, to increase affordable housing supply and re-activate a critical neighborhood service center to meet the needs of economically disadvantaged youth, seniors, and the wider St. Croix community. This project is a sound use of taxpayer funding because, consistent with the national objectives of the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program, it will rehabilitate properties to house low-moderate income persons, and provide use space for small businesses and nonprofit organization activities. This will aid in the prevention or elimination of blighted properties (shuttered buildings) and meet unmet affordable housing needs that contribute to homelessness and increase demand for services to at-risk populations. This will also contribute to the economic revitalization of the Christiansted historic district and generally support broader economic development on St. Croix.

Subcommittee/Agency/Account: Transportation, Housing and Urban Development / Department of Housing and Urban Development / Economic Development Initiative

Project Name: Sunday Market Square Development

Project Location: 35 A & B King Street, Christiansted, VI, 00820

Project Recipient: St. Croix Foundation (501(c)(3) non-profit)

Recipient Address: 1023 Market Street, Christiansted, St. Croix, VI 00820

Amount Requested: $2,430,208

Project Description and Explanation: The requested funding would be used by the non-profit St. Croix Foundation to develop and revitalize available affordable housing units and affordable commercial building space in Christiansted. This project is a sound use of taxpayer funding because it will fulfill several HUD National Objectives, rehabilitate a historic property, create housing and economic development for low-and-moderate income residents, and contribute to economic resilience in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Subcommittee/Agency/Account: Energy and Water Development / Army Corps of Engineers (Civil) / Investigations

Project Name: Charlotte Amalie (St. Thomas) Harbor Study

Project Location: St. Thomas Harbor, Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, VI 00802

Project Recipient: Virgin Islands Port Authority

Recipient Address: 8074 Lindbergh Bay, St. Thomas, VI 00802

Amount Requested: $1,000,000

Project Description and Explanation: The requested funding would be used by the Army Corps of Engineers to continue and complete the post authorization change report required to be completed and submitted to Congress for the Army Corps to carry out the project for navigation – “Charlotte Amalie (St. Thomas) Harbor, United States Virgin Islands” – reauthorized under section 355 of the Water Resources Development Act of 2020 (P.L. 116-260, Div. AA), pursuant to subsection (b) of such section 355. This request is to ensure that the work is continued to completion and the economic benefits of the completion of the project can be fulfilled. Project is a sound use of taxpayer funds because the St. Thomas Harbor Project will be a boon to the local economy, which is heavily dependent upon cruise ship tourism and maritime trade, by deepening the harbor and providing essential vessel access necessary to facilitate tourism and trade in the U.S. Virgin Islands. The improvements made possible by the St. Thomas Harbor Project directly affect the economic and employment opportunities of the Virgin Islands by facilitating trade, tourism, and the maritime infrastructure necessary for the continued recovery of the territory following disastrous hurricanes of recent years.

Subcommittee/Agency/Account: Transportation, Housing and Urban Development / Department of Housing and Urban Development / Economic Development Initiative

Project Name: My Brother’s Workshop Main Campus Building

Project Location: 24A Estate Charlotte Amalie, St Thomas 00802, U.S. Virgin Islands

Project Recipient: My Brother’s Workshop, Inc. (501(c)(3) non-profit)

Recipient Address: 26A Charlotte Amalie, P.O. Box 503205, St. Thomas, VI 00802

Amount Requested: $3,652,229

Project Description and Explanation: The requested funding would be used by the non-profit My Brother’s Workshop to build Main Campus Building 2, a building which will provide additional education and workforce development that will lead to employment and better financial stability in the U.S. territory of the Virgin Islands. This project is a sound use of taxpayer funding, and is consistent with the primary objective of the underlying community development program, because it will construct a building that will be used by a community nonprofit organization to provide education, vocational training, mentorship, and job placement counseling that will lead to employment and better financial stability in the U.S. territory of the Virgin Islands.

Subcommittee/Agency/Account: Transportation, Housing and Urban Development / Department of Housing and Urban Development / Economic Development Initiative

Project Name: Christiansted Old Barracks Rehabilitation

Project Location: 23 Hospital Street, Christiansted, St Croix, VI 00820

Project Recipient: Virgin Islands Architecture Center for Built Heritage and Crafts, Inc. (501(c)(3) non-profit)

Recipient Address: 1236 Strand Street, Christiansted, St. Croix, VI 00820

Amount Requested: $2,800,000

Project Description and Explanation: The requested funding would be used by the non-profit sponsor to rehabilitate blighted property, the Old Barracks property on Hospital Street in Christiansted, into an historic preservation educational center that will teach, train, and certify Virgin Islands young people in the building arts of stone, wood, iron, and other crafts prevalent in the U.S. Virgin Islands and other historic U.S. and Caribbean towns. This project is a sound use of taxpayer funding because it will reconstruct and restore a complex in disrepair due to hurricane disaster and deploy it as a center for education, training, workforce and small business development, and community economic development.

Subcommittee/Agency/Account: Transportation, Housing and Urban Development / Department of Housing and Urban Development / Economic Development Initiative

Project Name: Caribbean Centers Rebuilding

Project Location: #7 Market Street, Christiansted, VI 00820

Project Recipient: Caribbean Centers for Boys & Girls of the Virgin Islands (501(c)(3) non-profit)

Recipient Address: 22-A King Street, 2nd Floor, Christiansted, VI 00820

Amount Requested: $1,000,000

Project Description and Explanation: The requested funding would be used by the non-profit Caribbean Centers for Boys & Girls of the Virgin Islands to rebuild and rehabilitate youth centers that were severely damaged by Hurricanes Irma and Maria. This is a sound use of taxpayer funds because it will provide for the construction and rebuilding of youth centers that meet the underlying program objectives of elimination of slums and blight, including historic restoration to remove conditions that threaten health and safety, and for the provision of employment or other benefits primarily to persons of low and moderate income.

Subcommittee/Agency/Account: Transportation, Housing and Urban Development / Department of Housing and Urban Development / Economic Development Initiative

Project Name: Gustave Quetel Fish Market Renovation

Project Location: Gustave Quetel Fish Market, 83Q5+2V Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, VI 00802

Project Recipient: Virgin Islands Department of Planning and Natural Resources

Recipient Address: 4611 Tutu Park Mall, Suite 300, St. Thomas, VI 00802

Amount Requested: $510,000

Project Description and Explanation: The requested funding would be used by the Virgin Islands Department of Planning and Natural Resources (DPNR) for Gustave Quetel Fish Market facility renovation, the design and construction of solar lighting installments at the facility, and structural improvements to the roof. The project will renovate the facility and install solar panels to provide motion-detected lighting for the early morning and nights for fishermen and vendors, as well as retractable solar shading for customers. This project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because it will provide an off-grid facility to increase the food-security of the Virgin Islands (a rural, isolated community), and increase economic resiliency. The renovation of the facility would allow for structural enhancements to improve regulation of the water at the facility, as well as make the facility better equipped to dispose of organic waste generated at the facility. The renovated facility will contribute to the economic revitalization of the community by providing fishermen a space to engage in commerce and economic activity.

Subcommittee/Agency/Account: Transportation, Housing and Urban Development / Department of Housing and Urban Development / Economic Development Initiative

Project Name: Roseway Preservation

Project Location: 9B Hospital Street, Christiansted, VI 00820

Project Recipient: World Ocean School (501(c)(3) non-profit)

Recipient Address: 9B Hospital Street, Christiansted, VI 00820

Amount Requested: $2,000,000

Project Description and Explanation: The requested funding would be used by the non-profit World Ocean School to rehabilitate the National Historic Landmark, Roseway, for the benefit of educating primarily under resourced students. This project is a sound use of taxpayer funding because it will support the needed rehabilitation of a national historic site, as outlined in 42 U.S.C. 5305(a)(1), 5305(a) (2), and 5305(a)(4), which will have the additional benefit of educating new generations of students, many from underserved communities.

Subcommittee/Agency/Account: Energy and Water Development / Army Corps of Engineers (Civil) / Investigations

Project Name: Christiansted Harbor Study

Project Location: Christiansted Harbor, St. Croix, VI 00840

Project Recipient: Virgin Islands Port Authority

Recipient Address: 8074 Lindbergh Bay, St. Thomas, VI 00802

Amount Requested: $1,000,000

Project Description and Explanation: The requested funding would be used by the Army Corps of Engineers to continue and complete the post authorization change report required to be completed and submitted to Congress for the Army Corps to carry out the project for navigation – “Christiansted Harbor, United States Virgin Islands” – reauthorized under section 355 of the Water Resources Development Act of 2020 (P.L. 116-260, Div. AA), pursuant to subsection (b) of such section 355. This request is to ensure that the work is continued to completion and the economic benefits of the completion of the project can be fulfilled. Project is a sound use of taxpayer funds because the Christiansted Harbor Project will be a boon to the local economy, which is heavily dependent upon cruise ship tourism and maritime trade, by deepening the harbor and providing essential vessel access necessary to facilitate tourism and trade in the U.S. Virgin Islands. The improvements made possible by the Christiansted Harbor Project directly affect the economic and employment opportunities of the Virgin Islands by facilitating trade, tourism, and the maritime infrastructure necessary for the continued recovery of the territory following disastrous hurricanes of recent years.

Subcommittee/Agency/Account: Commerce, Justice, Science / Department of Commerce / National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration / Coastal Zone Management

Project Name: Sargassum Research and Shoreline Restoration

Project Location: Coki and Water Bay, Sapphire Bay, Great Bay, and Cowpet Bay, U.S. Virgin Islands, depending upon conditions related to sargassum inundations.

Project Recipient: Coral World Ocean and Reef Initiative, Inc. (501(c)(3) non-profit)

Recipient Address: 6450 Coki Point, St. Thomas, VI 00802

Amount Requested: $438,000

Project Description and Explanation: The requested funding would be used by the non-profit Coral World Ocean and Reef Initiative, Inc. (CWORI) to investigate the effects of the influx and decomposition of sargassum as well as monitor nesting beaches for hatchling sea turtles trapped or distressed by sargassum. This project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds given the largely under-documented environmental and health impacts of sargassum. It is critical for the Virgin Islands and non-profit organizations associated with its coastal economy, like CWORI, to better understand the impact of sargassum on endangered, threatened, and near-threatened species in near-shore and marine ecosystems as well as the surrounding coastal waters of the Virgin Islands.

Subcommittee/Agency/Account: Commerce, Justice, Science / Department of Commerce / National Institute of Standards and Technology / Scientific and Technical Research and Services

Project Name: Virgin Islands Digital Delivery Network

Project Location: U.S. Virgin Islands Territory-Wide

Project Recipient: Virgin Islands Next Generation Network (viNGN)

Recipient Address: 2179 Kings Cross, Suite 3, Christiansted, St. Croix, VI 00820

Amount Requested: $2,100,000

Project Description and Explanation: The requested funding would be used by the Virgin Islands Government to develop the USVI Digital Delivery Network, a resilient, sustainable, cost-efficient, accessible network of public services. The project is a sound use of taxpayer funding because it would allow for the procurement of the software and hardware to digitize, collect, and analyze and store to the cloud backlogs of unstructured data still trapped on paper and subject to decay and the hazards of being in a hurricane zone. This project will assist the Virgin Islands to build a digital network through the use of smart consumer engaged technologies and increase access of the most vulnerable to services and tools for healthcare, education and public information.

Subcommittee/Agency/Account: Commerce, Justice, Science / Department of Commerce / National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration / Coastal Zone Management

Project Name: Virgin Islands Sargassum Removal

Project Location: Christiansted Harbor in St. Croix, Charlotte Amalie Harbor in St. Thomas, sargassum inundated Virgin Islands shorelines and beaches, and water intake zones in the U.S. Virgin Islands territory-wide

Project Recipient: Virgin Islands Department of Planning and Natural Resources

Recipient Address: 4611 Tutu Park Mall, Suite 300, St. Thomas, VI 00802

Amount Requested: $1,671,146

Project Description and Explanation: The requested funding would be used by the Virgin Islands Department of Planning and Natural Resources (DPNR) to carry out industrial solutions or direct removal of harmful sargassum algal blooms in the Virgin Islands. This project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because it will mitigate the negative impacts of sargassum blooms on local health, infrastructure, natural resources, and the tourism-based economy. The shorelines of the Virgin Islands effectively act as our communal gathering spaces and drive our economic recovery from the hurricanes and COVID, being dependent upon tourism. When the shorelines are inundated with rotting sargassum endangering health and water desalination intakes, the community cannot meaningfully access the shoreline and coastal resources, and access to fresh water is also threatened.