Harlem Nonprofits May Get Millions From Espaillat's Earmarks

HARLEM, NY — Three Harlem organizations are on track to get millions of dollars in federal grants after a Manhattan congressman secured $11.5 million in local funding, his office announced.

This spring, U.S. Rep. Adriano Espaillat nominated 10 local projects for "earmarks," a recently-revived program allowing members of Congress to redirect federal dollars for community projects in their home districts.

This week, Espaillat's office announced that all 10 projects — including three in Harlem — were approved by the House Appropriations Committee, clearing the way for them to be funded when Congress passes its annual spending bills this month.

Here are the three Harlem projects:

$1,739,440: New York Urban League Building Renovation

• The Urban League is seeking funding to "maintain full ownership of its historic building" on West 136th Street in Central Harlem. Funds would help the League renovate the 110-year-old building by restoring its facade, replacing its roof and upgrading HVAC and electrical systems, creating new programmatic spaces, meeting rooms and a Small Business Development Center to incubate new businesses and foster jobs.

$1,500,000: Charles B. Rangel Center for Infrastructure Workforce Training:

• The center, which is part of City College, will train people in construction and operations across multiple infrastructures, including transport, energy, communications, water and food. Trainees would be recruited from within the community, with a focus on preparing them for entry-level jobs and full careers.

$1,114,000: Mission Society: Level Up

• Requested by the NYC Mission Society on Malcolm X Boulevard, the funding would cover the nonprofit's Level Up programs, which aim to reduce the city's high school drop-out rate and prepare students for post-secondary education and the workforce. The program enrolls 1,800 students, addressing both academic and non-academic barriers to graduation.

For the funding to be realized, Espaillat's allocations must be passed by the Senate and signed into law by President Biden.

Earmarks were abolished 10 years ago amid corruption and waste claims, but brought back this spring as a tool for bipartisan compromise.

Espaillat, whose district includes all of Upper Manhattan and some of the Bronx, also secured earmarks for a community kitchen in the Bronx and a food pantry in Washington Heights, among other projects.

"This funding will be transformational for my district as we continue our fight to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and will serve as a down payment for our community to begin our work to build back better and stronger than ever before," he said in a statement.

Nearly 50 projects were submitted after Espaillat first put out the request in late March. His office narrowed that list to 10 submissions by choosing projects with the highest likelihood of being approved by the House committee.

Previous coverage: 3 Harlem Nonprofits Ask For Millions In Federal Dollars