Rep. Jones secures $ 29 million in funding for Rockland

On  Monday December 26, U.S. Representative and Rockland native Mondaire Jones (D-NY) applauded the passage of the Fiscal Year 2023 omnibus appropriations bill, which includes nearly $29 million in Community Project Funding (CPF) for 15 different projects across New York’s 17th Congressional District. The bill was passed in the House today and now goes to President Biden for his signature. Once signed into law, the funding will be distributed to various local governments and community organizations throughout Rockland and Westchester Counties. This latest round of funding secured by Rep. Jones for the 17th district includes essential funding for mental health resources, community programming, and health care facilities and training, as well as improvements to roads and bridges, green spaces, and community spaces.

“I’m proud to be delivering nearly $29 million in federal funding for vital community projects throughout New York’s 17th Congressional District,” said Rep. Jones. “From expanded health care and mental health services, to restoring our roads, bridges and vibrant community spaces, these projects will improve the everyday lives of my constituents in Rockland and Westchester Counties. I’m proud to have worked with my Senate partners, Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, to secure this money for my district. 

 Specifically, Rep. Jones’ secured funding for the following programs: 

 Town of Orangetown – Route 9W at Oak Tree Road Safety Improvements – $4,000,000

Joint request with Senators Schumer and Gillibrand

o    This funding will be used for improving the Palisades, New York corridor of 9W to correct a long history of dangerous traffic patterns and traffic conditions at the Oak Tree Road and Route 9W. A single-lane roundabout will be built at an intersection where many accidents occur every year. Palisades is the first entry into New York State from New York City and New Jersey – it is an essential and significant thoroughfare to all points north along Route 9W and the NYS Thruway and points to the west by way of Oak Tree Road.

Rockland Community College – Construction and Expansion of the Nursing Simulation Lab – $3,000,000

This funding will be used for the construction and expansion of a new state-of-the-art Nursing Simulation Lab on Rockland Community College’s main campus in Suffern. Nursing simulation laboratories are used at all levels of nursing education to prepare students with the skills they need to enter the workforce and provide excellent patient care. This funding will provide the Simulation Lab with much needed high-fidelity mannequins and equipment that can mimic real life scenarios that students will face in the field.

 Scenic Hudson – Route 9-RiverWalk Transit Connector – $2,797,500

Joint request with Senators Schumer and Gillibrand

o    This funding will be used to construct the Transit Connector to enable pedestrian and bicycle access between Route 9 neighborhoods and businesses. This ADA-compliant trail connection will help New York State meet its climate and energy reduction goals by providing bicycle/pedestrian access between Tarrytown Station, a multi-modal transportation hub, and homes, businesses, and jobs. 

Finkelstein Memorial Library – Finkelstein Library Enrichment Center – $2,000,000

This funding will be used for constructing an addition to the Finkelstein Library to house the Enrichment Center to provide low-cost or free mental health services to homeless clients in Rockland County. The Library is partnering with VCS (Volunteer Counseling Service of Rockland County Inc.) to create a space to provide these much needed services.

Jawonio Inc. – Jawonio Behavioral Health Center – $1,300,000

Joint request with Senator Schumer

o    This funding will be used to build out a new space in Rockland County for the Jawonio Behavioral Health Center where people with a mental health diagnosis can receive holistic mental health services, achieve their recovery goals, and actively participate in their community. The Jawonio Behavioral Health Program is unique as it provides integrated psychiatric rehabilitation and clinical services that promotes treatment through a recovery-oriented lens.

 Good Samaritan Hospital (Bon Secours Charity Health System) – Good Samaritan Hospital Cancer Screening Endoscopy Suite – $1,000,000

Joint request with Senator Schumer

o    This funding will be used to establish a modernized Cancer Screening Endoscopy suite to facilitate preventative screenings aimed at detecting cancerous growths during early treatable stages that are commonly without external symptoms. The project will increase the overall health and wellness of communities in Rockland County by improving access to highly specialized care with state of the art technology.

The recipients of this new federal aid expressed relief that their projects can commence and continue as planned thanks to the new funds and specifacly thanked Jones for being recepitvie to the areas needs.

 “We are so grateful to Congressman Jones for this extraordinary $1.3 million dollar funding opportunity for our Jawonio Community Mental Health Center in Rockland County. Thanks to the Congressman, the most vulnerable individuals with lifetime mental health challenges will now have a ‘home’ in the community where they will be supported, included, and focused on their personal goals and recovery. This is an absolute game-changer. Not only has Congressman Jones given us the resources to change lives for the better, but to save lives too,” said Jawanio CEO Randi Rios-Castro, MS. 

 “Rockland Community College is thrilled to be the recipient of $3 million Community Project Funding to construct and expand a new state-of-the-art Nursing Simulation Lab on the RCC main campus in Suffern, NY. This could not have come at a more significant moment as our Nation is experiencing a desperate need for nurses as we continue to see a shortage in the healthcare industry. With this funding, RCC will be able to enhance our nursing program to allow students to have more practice with their learning. We are excited to begin work on this important initiative and to continue providing our students with transformational experiences for themselves and our community,” said Dr. Susan Deer, Officer in Charge of Rockland Community College.

“The residents of Palisades, NY have advocated for safety improvements to the Route 9W and Oak Tree Road intersection for over 14 years,” said Town of Orangetown Supervisor Teresa M. Kenny. “We are very thankful for Congressman Jones’ support and look forward to an accessible and safe roundabout in Palisades.”

In addition to this round of $29 million in community project funding, early this year Congressman Jones secured $8.2 million in community project funding in the Fiscal Year 2022 omnibus appropriations bill, which included $1.5 million for the Hudson Valley’s first-ever LGBTQ+ community health clinic (located in Nyack, NY) .