| Contact: Jordan Goldes | Phone (718) 423-2154 | Fax (718) 423-5591 | http://www.house.gov/ackerman | ||||||
| July 15, 2008 | |||||||||
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Ackerman Announces Federal Funds for North Hempstead Approved by Congressional Committee |
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(Washington, DC) - U.S. Rep. Gary Ackerman (D-Queens/L.I.) today announced that the House Appropriations Committee has approved funds for two projects in the Town of North Hempstead. The projects include a program for at-risk youth and an alternative energy initiative, both being undertaken by the Town. The funds, which Ackerman requested, were approved as part of two separate appropriations bills. The money includes:
Funds for the project would be used to turn youth away from gangs and drugs by offering after-school activities, mentoring and role model programs, gang intervention and recreational and sports projects. Other activities include character building, family involvement strategies and additional efforts designed to guide young people in a positive direction.
The “Helping Each Other” program would build on the successful effort conducted over the past year. It would provide secondary violence and gang prevention education to recent immigrant youth aged 7 to 15 in order to mitigate against risk factors leading to violence and gang involvement. The program focuses on newly arrived students and their families to help them make a positive adjustment to their new surroundings by pairing them with more well settled immigrant youth and mentors who provide guidance, tutoring and friendship.
The project achieved remarkable results in its first two years where 90 percent of the participants remained with the program. Participants also achieved a 97 percent school attendance rate, 100 percent advance in grade and zero arrests for juvenile offenses or violent behaviors.
The Appropriations Committee approved the funds as part of the 2009 Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations bill.
“The Anti-Gang Youth Empowerment Project would be a vital piece of our broader vision for a safe and friendly community” said Ackerman.
Funds would be used for the design, engineering and construction of the photovoltaic solar energy system to power the Town of North Hempstead’s Green Vehicle Depot.
The Town of North Hempstead is currently constructing the depot which will use renewable solar and biomass energy to fuel cars. These energy sources are also expected to power the facility as well as to utilize water-saving technologies. The project is part of a major initiative to convert local transit buses and government automobiles to low-emission green vehicles. Presently, the town is converting its petroleum vehicles into a fleet of 20 low-emission hybrid-electric vehicles and seven hybrid-electric buses.
The proposed 34,000 square foot depot is expected to house up to fifteen buses and twenty hybrid vehicles.
North Hempstead’s green fleets and its innovative Green Depot will be high-profile transferable examples of cleaner transpiration for North Hempstead’s citizens and businesses. With federal funding, North Hempstead can complete its green energy project and demonstrate integrated renewable technologies that can be transferred to vehicle depots across the nation. Success on these approaches can make a meaningful difference on the national challenge of reducing air pollutants, greenhouse gases and dependence on foreign oil.
The Appropriations Committee approved the funds as part of the 2009 Energy and Water Appropriations bill.
“The Green Vehicle Depot embodies our communities commitment to a more clean, safe and healthy environment” said Ackerman. “The project is an outstanding way for the Town of North Hempstead to use new technology to convert to a more environmentally-sound energy source and lessen the dependence on foreign sources of energy.”
The funds for both the Anti-Gang Youth Empowerment Project and the Green Vehicle Depot must still be approved by the full House, the Senate and signed into law by the President.
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