Federal Spending Bill Includes Money For Alexandria Projects

ALEXANDRIA, VA — Funding for community projects in Alexandria was included in the federal omnibus government funding bill.

Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA), who represents Alexandria in Virginia's 8th congressional district, requested funding for community projects in his district in the federal spending bill. Funding could be requested by state and local government, public institutions and nonprofits. The major spending package providing federal funding through much of 2023 was passed by the U.S. Senate Thursday, and the U.S. House will vote on the bill Friday.

"I am proud to announce that bipartisan legislation which will soon pass into law includes funding I secured for worthy projects in Arlington, Alexandria, Falls Church, and Fairfax County," said Beyer in a statement. "This project funding will make our community healthier, support clean energy, boost our transportation infrastructure, support affordable housing, feed the hungry, and help improve law enforcement transparency."

In Alexandria, funded community projects include an Alexandria Housing Development Corporation housing project in Arlandria, body-worn cameras for the Alexandria Police Department, an Alexandria Community Food Resource Center through ALIVE, and flood mitigation project in Arlandria.

The $1.5 million for the Arlandria housing project will go toward a multi-phase project that will provide 475 affordable housing units as well as commercial, retail and community space. The 475 units will include 417 rental apartments for households making 40 to 80 percent of the area median income and 58 condominium units for first-time homebuyers making up to 80 percent of the area median income.

The project is proposed to offer existing small businesses, affordable daycare, pre-K programs, a medical and dental clinic, a workforce training program and cafe, nonprofit offices, and city flex space for workforce development, social services, landlord tenant services and community meeting space. Construction could begin in 2023.

The $1 million for body-worn cameras in the Alexandria Police Department will focus on initially deploying cameras on "high-impact shifts and high-need areas." The body-worn cameras are intended to promote accountability and transparency in policing.

The $1.5 million for the Alexandria Community Food Resource Center will support acquisition of a space. The permanent location of the Alexandria Community Food Resource Center will support emergency food supply for people experiencing food insecurity.

The $750,000 for flood mitigation will go toward the project at Notabene Drive, Four Mile Road and Old Dominion Boulevard. The spot improvement project will address an area impacted by flooding events. The project proposes to add about 660 linear feet of a 42-inch pipe to replace the existing 24-inch pipe for additional storm sewer capacity. The project aims to help drain excess water runoff and prevent flooding onto private properties.

The last omnibus spending bill passed by Congress in March included funding for body-worn cameras and a storm sewer capacity project.