Community Project Funding FY2025 Submissions
$1,900,000 for the Delaware Discovery Center, Delaware AeroSpace Education Foundation
The funding would be used for the completion of the Delaware Discovery Center, which is located in, and benefits, an underserved rural area. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because the completion of this center will allow the Delaware Aerospace Education Foundation to expand their STEM leadership, education, and training programs at a time when our country is facing significant workforce shortages, particularly in STEM fields. The project has a Federal nexus because the funding provided is for purposes authorized by Section 306 of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act, 7 U.S. Code section 1926(a).
Certification letter can be found here.
$1,500,000 for Wastewater Collection – CSO30 Discharge Reduction, the City of Wilmington
The funding would be used for pipeline construction to help manage sewer water discharge. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because it will protect the public health of a community deemed low income and help their sewer infrastructure withstand the impacts of increment weather. The project has a Federal nexus because the funding provided is for purposes authorized by Section 566 of the Water Resources Development Act of 1992, as amended, 33 U.S. Code Chapter 36.
Certification letter can be found here.
$2,400,000 for Force Main Replacement, Murderkill River Crossing, Frederica, DE, the Kent County Levy Court
The funding would be used for wastewater pipeline replacement. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because it will decrease the risk of pipe failure thus protecting over 100,000 county residents from sewer wastewater exposure and contamination. The project has a Federal nexus because the funding provided is for purposes authorized by Section 566 of the Water Resources Development Act of 1992, as amended, 33 U.S. Code Chapter 36.
Certification letter can be found here.
$3,660,000 for Elsmere Stormwater and Flood Mitigation Project, the Town of Elsmere
The funding would be used for infrastructure improvements of existing drainage and stormwater management issues causing flooding and erosion damage in the town. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because it will help an underrepresented and low-income community have the infrastructure needed to withstand severe weather events. The project has a Federal nexus because the funding provided is for purposes authorized by section 203 of the Stafford Act (42 U.S.C. 5133), as amended by Section 1234, National Public Infrastructure Pre-Disaster Hazard Mitigation, of the Disaster Recovery Reform Act (DRRA) of 2018.
Certification letter can be found here.
$5,250,000 for Cape Henlopen Senior Center Project, Cape Henlopen Senior Center, Inc.
The funding would be used to construct a new senior center that provides essential functions to the fastest-growing population of people in the State of Delaware, seniors, and older Americans. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because the current senior center building is no longer available starting in 2025. Failure to create a new center would result in a devastating lack of critical mental and behavioral resources for rural seniors. The project has a Federal nexus because the funding provided is for purposes authorized by Section 306 of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act, 7 U.S. Code section 1926(a).
Certification letter can be found here.
$775,110 for Solar Array for the Food Bank of Delaware’s Milford Facility, the Food Bank of Delaware
The funding would be used to purchase and install a 431kW solar array on the roof of the Food Bank of Delaware facility. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because it provides a clean energy alternative and the savings generated from the solar array will be reinvested into programmatic efforts led by the Food Bank that are essential to addressing food insecurity in the surrounding rural community. The project has a Federal nexus because the funding provided is for purposes authorized by Section 306 of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act, 7 U.S. Code section 1926(a).
Certification letter can be found here.
$1,000,000 for James Farm Master Plan Implementation, Phase 2, Delaware Center for Inland Bays
The funding would be used for the construction and completion of an education center which is located in and benefits a rural watershed community. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because this project’s completion will allow for the Delaware Center of Inland Bays to expand community access to science education opportunities and gain access to the full range of natural habitats, plants and wildlife that define eastern Sussex County’s environment. The project has a Federal nexus because the funding provided is for purposes authorized by Section 306 of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act, 7 U.S. Code section 1926(a).
Certification letter can be found here.
$737,249 for 4th Street Flood Study, the City of Milford
The funding would be used for flood reduction in areas of the city and provide higher quality runoff with reduced contaminants. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because it addresses a prevalent community issue and looks to address water infrastructure in need of improvement. The project has a Federal nexus because the funding provided is for purposes authorized by Title VI of the Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C 1381 et seq.
Certification letter can be found here.
$800,000 for Upgrade and Expansion of Wastewater Treatment Facility, City of Seaford
The funding would be used for upgrades and expansion of the Seaford Wastewater Treatment Facility to handle a capacity of 3.0 million gallons per day to accommodate growth in the communities served by the facility. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because it addresses a prevalent community issue and looks to address water infrastructure in need of improvement. The project has a Federal nexus because the funding provided is for purposes authorized by Title VI of the Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C 1381 et seq.
Certification letter can be found here.
$832,500 for Capital Improvements, New Castle County Hope Center
The funding would be used for capital improvements that will upgrade and modernize the two elevators in the building, install laundry facilities on 3 of the 6 floors, and redevelop the current 2-acre parking lot to include green space. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because it promotes accessibility for underserved populations and energy efficiency. The project has a Federal nexus because the funding provided is consistent with purposes authorized in 42 U.S.C.5305(a)(1), 5305(a)(2), 5305(a)(4), and/or 5305(a)(5).
Certification letter can be found here.
$800,000 for HOPE Commission Statewide Reentry Program, the Wilmington HOPE Commission, Inc.:
The funding would be used for critical re-entry support services to justice-involved individuals in Delaware, including risk and needs assessments, behavioral health services, vocational readiness training, peer support, and family-reunification. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because re-entry services help prevent recidivism, support the re-integration of justice-involved individuals into communities, and connect these individuals to employment. Expanding these services will help keep Delaware communities safer, reduce burdens on law enforcement and the criminal justice system, and reduce overall cost of the criminal justice system through prevention. The project has a Federal nexus because the funding provided is for activities consistent with, and supportive of, the Office of Justice Programs’ mission and aligned with one or more of the purposes described in the Byrne Justice Assistance Grants (JAG) program, section 501 of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (34 U.S.C. § 10152).
Certification letter can be found here.
$10,000,000, for Biopharmaceutical Manufacturing Equipment, the University of Delaware
The funding would be used for the acquisition of specialized biopharmaceutical manufacturing equipment to support next-generation approaches to manufacturing. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because the acquisition of this equipment will support accelerated knowledge and testing, expanded advanced manufacturing capacity that could be deployed for the public good, and enhanced national readiness. The project has a Federal nexus because the funding provided is for activities consistent with, and supportive of, NIST’s mission and aligned with one or more of the functions and activities described in section 272 of title 15, United States Code.
Certification letter can be found here.
$1,800,000 for Lead Abatement Remediation Program, New Castle County
The funding would be used for lead remediation for 50+ households with children under six years old. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because it rehabilitates homes that pose a threat to community health and safety. Lead remediation directly benefits the family whose house is being remediated and limits and prevents the spread of lead hazards to neighbors and the community at large. The project has a Federal nexus because the funding provided is consistent with purposes authorized in 42 U.S.C.5305(a)(1), 5305(a)(2), 5305(a)(4), and/or 5305(a)(5).
Certification letter can be found here.
$1,450,000 for DFS Equipment to Enhance Capabilities in the Toxicology Unit, the Department of Safety and Homeland Security Division of Forensic Science
The funding would be used for the acquisition of two Liquid Chromatograph Tandem Mass Spectrometer Instruments to enhance DFS’s casework capabilities and their ability to serve law enforcement partners. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because the acquisition of this equipment will help Delaware combat the opioid crisis and will support the criminal justice system through reliable and efficient testing support for law enforcement and related partners. The project has a Federal nexus because the funding provided is for activities consistent with, and supportive of, the Office of Justice Programs’ mission and aligned with one or more of the purposes described in the Byrne Justice Assistance Grants (JAG) program, section 501 of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (34 U.S.C. § 10152).
Certification letter can be found here.
$11,000,000 for Dock/Pile Wharf Repairs, the Diamond State Port Corporation
The funding would be used to replace the dock concrete surface, repair the dock concrete piles, and replace the bollards/fendering on the wharf at Port Wilmington. This project supports critical Port Wilmington infrastructure that requires immediate attention. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because the current concrete piles are damaged, and the dock concrete surface has extensively deteriorated. This negatively impacts the ability of Port Wilmington to provide adequate levels of service to customers, run operations efficiently, and most importantly keep employees safe on the job. The project has a Federal nexus because the funding provided is for purposes authorized by 46 USC 54301.
Certification letter can be found here.
FY2025 National Defense Authorization Act
$4,200,000 for Planning and Design Funding for the Dover Air Force Base Reserve Facility 512th Airlift Wing Operations Group
The funding would be used to construct a 3,069 square meter facility for the 512th Airlift Wing Operations Group (OG) including all required supporting utilities, pavements, site improvements, and communications. Facility 270, the existing 512 OG facility, will be demolished upon construction completion of the new facility. Demolition will include the removal and disposal of all related hazardous materials. The project has a federal nexus because the requested funding would be for purposes authorized by 10 U.S.C. Chapter 169.
Certification letter can be found here.
Community Project Funding Submissions for FY22-24 can be found below:
Community Project Funding FY24 Submissions
Community Project Funding FY23 Submissions
Community Project Funding FY22 Submissions
