Community Project Funding Requests
The U.S. House of Representatives will consider Community Project Funding (CPF) requests in the Fiscal Year 2024 appropriations process.
Rep. Darren Soto has submitted funding requests for important community projects in Florida's Ninth Congressional District to the House Appropriations Committee.
Under guidelines issued by the Appropriations Committee, each Representative may request funding for up to 15 projects in their community for Fiscal Year 2024 – although only a handful may actually be funded. Projects are restricted to a limited number of federal funding streams, and only state and local governments and eligible non-profit entities are permitted to receive funding. Additional information on the reforms governing Community Project Funding is available here.
In compliance with House Rules and Committee requirements, Rep. Soto has certified that he, his spouse, and his immediate family have no financial interest in any of the projects he has requested.
Projects submitted by Congressman Soto during the FY24 process can be viewed below. These were signed into law on march 9.
Project Name: Kissimmee Hotel-Conversion Affordable Housing
Proposed Recipient and Address: City of Kissimmee, Florida — 101 Church Street, Kissimmee, Florida 34741
Requested Amount: $1,800,000
Summary: The project would be a valuable use of taxpayer funds because the project is a public facilities project. This project will provide much needed affordable housing through the renovation of a 123-unit motel and multifamily property and provide housing focused shelter, bridge housing, and affordable leasable residential units on one campus. The project will add 83 units of critical housing infrastructure to the pipeline by converting 40 of the 83 motel rooms to studio apartments, making required renovations to the existing 40 - 2 bedroom/1 bath units and performing required site improvements. The remaining 43 hotel rooms will serve as shelter and bridge housing for unhoused individuals and families in our community.
Letter of Certification: View Letter Here
Project Name: East Orlando/Semoran Blvd Flood ControL
Proposed Recipient and Address: City of Orlando, Florida — 400 South Orange Avenue, Orlando, FL 32801
Requested Amount: $959,752
Summary: The project would be a valuable use of taxpayer funds because the project is a public improvement project. The stormwater infrastructures of area along corridor of Florida State Road 552 (Curry Ford Road) were developed in the 1980-90s based on the applicable requirements at that time; however, the stormwater infrastructures need improvement due to the aging and undersized system. Due to the dated stormwater infrastructures, low-lying areas, and limitation of the topography, the existing infrastructures require improvement to meet the current design criteria to maintain its resiliency. The project will assess, design, and improve the existing infrastructures to the current standards. Based on the residents’ complaints, the improvement of stormwater infrastructures to the current standards would alleviate stormwater issues and the susceptibility of flooding on the roads and residential buildings in the area as a result of the outdated system, and it would result in a net benefit for the public health, safety, quality of life, environment, and economy of the communities. The project is a priority because there are several residents including families with children live in the areas. There are four schools (i.e. Chickasaw Elementary School, Ventura Elementary School, Roberto Clemente Middle School, and Engelwood Elementary School) in the vicinity of this area; therefore, improvement of stormwater management would tremendously be beneficial to the students in the area.
Letter of Certification: View Letter Here
Project Name: St. Cloud Downtown Flood Control
Proposed Recipient and Address: City of St. Cloud, Florida — 1309 9th Street, St. Cloud, Florida 34769
Requested Amount: $1,616,279
Summary: The project would be a valuable use of taxpayer funds because the project is a public works project. These stormwater infrastructure projects are intended to improve flood management in the Historic Downtown area. Approximately 18 percent of the residences within the project areas are located within the FEMA “Zone AE” or “Zone A” floodplain. Residences and businesses within the above-mentioned FEMA Zones are at risk of extreme flooding damage. Additionally, the stormwater infrastructure, roads, and private residences in the surrounding areas were not constructed under today’s standards. Due to these circumstances, there has been significant flooding in the district after heavy storm events. There needs to be considerable capital improvements investments to raise the Level of Service high enough to accommodate a one percent storm (100-year storm).
Letter of Certification: View Letter Here
Project Name: Toho Water/Poinciana Wastewater Improvements
Proposed Recipient and Address: Toho Water Authority — 951 Martin Luther King Boulevard, Kissimmee, Florida 34741
Requested Amount: $960,000
Summary: The project would be a valuable use of taxpayer funds because the project is a public works project. Toho Water Authority (Toho) manages and operates a wastewater collection system that provides wastewater service to Osceola County and Poinciana within Polk and Osceola Counties. The existing wastewater force main on Reaves Road that carries untreated wastewater to Toho’s Poinciana Water Reclamation Facility has degraded resulting in eleven recorded main breaks since February 2020. Each break that results in a wastewater spill can potentially lead to environmental harm and health hazards to the community, in addition to disrupting wastewater service to residents. Currently Toho has installed a temporary force main bypass to reduce the risk of another main break while replacement infrastructure is designed and constructed. A permanent force main consisting of approximately 3,000 ft of new piping is currently under design that will remedy the problems as well as support the development of potentially 100 new homes in the future.
Letter of Certification: View Letter Here
Project Name: Belle Isle/Orange County Daetwyler Drive/Judge Road Improvements
Proposed Recipient and Address: City of Belle Isle — 1600 Nela Avenue, Orlando, Florida 32809
Requested Amount: $745,000
Summary: The project would be a valuable use of taxpayer funds because the project is a public works project. This is a two-part infrastructure project for a major roadway along Judge Road, which converts to Daetwyler Road, between Conway Road to McCoy Road. Daetwyler Drive/Judge Road are classified by FDOT as major rural collectors, providing a principal vehicular corridor on the east side of Belle Isle. The project widens Judge Road from two to three lanes 900 feet between Franconia Drive and Conway Road and creates a multi-use path on Daetwyler Drive/Judge Road from McCoy Road to Conway Road for pedestrians and bicyclists to utilize, which will provide a vital link in the southeast quadrant of the city connecting existing bicycle lanes on McCoy Road and Conway Road, as well as linking Belle Isle neighborhood streets with the larger regional bicycle network to benefit residents off Belle Isle, Orlando and Orange County with a combined daily ADT of 10,000-13,000 commuters as of 2019.
Letter of Certification: View Letter Here
Project Name: Osceola County/Poinciana Marigold Ave Pedestrian Improvements
Proposed Recipient and Address: Osceola County — 1 Courthouse Square, Suite 4700, Kissimmee, Florida 34741
Requested Amount: $850,000
Summary: The project would be a valuable use of taxpayer funds because the project is a public works project. The funding would be used to construct four intersection roundabouts to improve safety along a stretch of 1.45 miles along Marigold Avenue in Osceola County’s Poinciana, a historically disadvantaged community. The four intersections are Marigold Avenue and San Lorenzo Road, San Miguel Road, Laurel Avenue, and Peabody Road. The total project length is approximately 1.45 miles. These intersection improvements are critical to improving safety and the quality of life for motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians in the area.
Letter of Certification: View Letter Here
Project Name: Edgewood Orange Ave Sidewalk Improvements
Proposed Recipient and Address: City of Edgewood — 405 Bagshaw Way, Edgewood, Florida 32809
Requested Amount: $1,000,000
Summary: The project would be a valuable use of taxpayer funds because the project is a public works project. The funding would be used to reconstruct sidewalks to make Edgewood safer for pedestrians. This project will widen pedestrian zones, which currently have zero setback from the curb to a minimum of 14 feet wide with an eight feet wide sidewalk separated from the curb by at least a six feet wide grassed strip along SR 527 (Orange Avenue). The sidewalks shall be built to FDOT standards and ADA compliant. Sidewalk reconstruction is one element of the City of Edgewood’s Edgewood Central District development plan. This project will improve transportation efficiency in the city by encouraging alternative modes of transportation and make Edgewood a walkable community.
Letter of Certification: View Letter Here
Project Name: Osceola County/Whitted Neighborhood Water Main
Proposed Recipient and Address: Osceola County — 1 Courthouse Square, Suite 4700, Kissimmee, Florida 34741
Requested Amount: $850,000
Summary: The project would be a valuable use of taxpayer funds because the project is a public works project. The project would support funding for Osceola County to design, permit, and construct an extension of the City of St. Cloud’s potable water system to serve approximately 52 residents providing clean drinking water to improve the quality of life of residents in the historic Whitted neighborhood. After completion of the potable water system, the Toho Water Authority will operate and maintain the potable water system for the City of St. Cloud.
Letter of Certification: View Letter Here
Project Name: Toho Water/Downtown St. Cloud Water Main
Proposed Recipient and Address: Toho Water Authority — 951 Martin Luther King Boulevard, Kissimmee, Florida 34741
Requested Amount: $697,000
Summary: The project would be a valuable use of taxpayer funds because the project is a public works project. The project will consist of replacing aging and in some cases undersized infrastructure at four locations in the water system. Two of the projects will address galvanized steel pipe in downtown St. Cloud along Connecticut and Minnesota Avenues. The remaining two projects will replace and upsize an aging water pipe crossing US 192 at Columbia Avenue, and Missouri Avenue
Letter of Certification: View Letter Here
Project Name: Polk County/Polk County Schools Sidewalk Improvements
Proposed Recipient and Address: Polk County — 330 West Church Street, Bartow, Florida 33830
Requested Amount: $850,000
Summary: The project would be a valuable use of taxpayer funds because the project is a public works project. Funding would be used to construct 7.66 miles (40,440 linear ft) of sidewalks that would benefit residents of Poinciana. These sidewalks will primarily be located near school bus stops and along school bus routes. Polk County is among the most-dangerous places in the United States for pedestrians. Poinciana has suffered the loss of several student pedestrians to fatal crashes in the past few years. This project consists of public requests for specific sidewalks that have been approved by the Polk County Sidewalk Advisory Committee to be constructed by the Polk County Roads & Drainage Division. This funding will provide Polk County with resources needed to fulfill these public requests.
Letter of Certification: View Letter Here
Project Name: UCF Medical School Pathogen Surveillance Equipment
Proposed Recipient and Address: University of Central Florida — 6900 Lake Nona Boulevard, Orlando, Florida 32827
Requested Amount: $900,000
Summary: The project would be a valuable use of taxpayer funds because the project enables the University of Central Florida’s Infectious Disease Initiative to collect, create, analyze, and/or maintain specimens of scientific value. Funding would be used to purchase two research instruments: A fully automated genomic sequencing instrument ($500,000) and a high-capacity automated sample preparation instrument ($400,000) to predict, survey, and mitigate threats of infectious pathogens and emerging vector-borne diseases. The Initiative partners with regional hospitals serving residents and visitors of the Orlando metro area, ranked the largest US travel and tourism destination in 2022 with over 100 million visitors to the State. The University of Central Florida’s Pathogen Surveillance Laboratory is uniquely positioned to impact national public health safety through cutting-edge research on vector-borne diseases within a densely populated and heavily traveled area.
Letter of Certification: View Letter Here
Project Name: LYNX Bus Shelter/Passenger Safety
Proposed Recipient and Address: Central Florida Regional Transportation Authority (LYNX) — 445 N Garland Avenue, Orlando, Florida 32801
Requested Amount: $1,000,000
Summary: The project would be a valuable use of taxpayer funds because the project is a public works project. The funding would be used to install two bus pull-outs and bus shelters with solar lighting. Installation of the pull-outs will improve passenger safety. Bus shelters will be installed to provide shade and a safe waiting location for passengers. Solar lighting will be installed on the shelters to provide a safe lit area using environmentally friendly and sustainable solar energy. This project will facilitate the safe transfer of passengers and provides a layover outside of travel lanes.
Letter of Certification: View Letter Here
Project Name: GOAA — South Entrance Road Improvements
Proposed Recipient and Address: Greater Orlando Aviation Authority — 1 Jeff Fuqua Boulevard, Orlando, Florida 32827
Requested Amount: $500,000
Summary: The project would be a valuable use of taxpayer funds because the project is a public works project. The Greater Orlando Aviation Authority governs Orlando International Airport and would oversee project funding used for design and construction of road improvements to the main cordon line south of Orlando International Airport. The proposed conceptual improvements to this intersection will simplify the traffic movements, reduce congestion, decrease pollution from idling vehicles at red lights and improve overall traffic.
Letter of Certification: View Letter Here
Project Name: Orange County GreenPLACE
Proposed Recipient and Address: Orange County — 201 South Rosalind Avenue, Orlando, Florida 32801
Requested Amount: $500,000
Summary: The project would be a valuable use of taxpayer funds because the project acquires real property which is appropriate for conservation activities. The funding would be used to acquire parcels of real property to provide essential continuity to environmentally sensitive lands already preserved in Crosby Island Marsh Preserve, Moss Park, Eagles Roost, Isle of Pine Preserve, and Split Oak Forest. This GreenPLACE project will protect natural lands that include wetlands, critical surface and groundwater, as well as threatened species, including the gopher tortoise. This land acquisition will assist in making our community sustainable and resilient.
Letter of Certification: View Letter Here
Project Name: Salvation Army Affordable Housing
Proposed Recipient and Address: The Salvation Army, a Georgia Corporation — 416 West Colonial Drive, Orlando, Florida 32804
Requested Amount: $500,000
Summary: The project would be a valuable use of taxpayer funds because the project acquires real property which is to be used for other public purposes. The funding would be used to acquire and develop affordable housing for those who are housing insecure.
Letter of Certification: View Letter Here
In FY23, the following projects were funded:
Project Name: Michigan Avenue pedestrian and bike upgrades
Proposed Recipient and Address: Osceola County — 1 Courthouse Square, Kissimmee, FL 34741
Requested Amount: $1,978,000
Summary: This project would be a valuable use of taxpayer funds because provide residents who live in a community bifurcated by Michigan Avenue with safer pedestrian and bicycling opportunities and will integrate a designated Historically Disadvantage Community.
Project Name: St. Cloud Clean Water Project
Proposed Recipient and Address: City of St. Cloud — 1300 9th Street, St. Cloud, FL 34769
Requested Amount: $1,051,360
Summary: The project would be a valuable use of taxpayer funds because the funding would be used for a joint project between the City of St Cloud and Toho Water Authority to implement the Hopkins Park Service Area Septic-to-Sewer project. The project will consist of constructing a centralized sewer collection system that is currently served by aging, privately owned septic sewer systems. Overall, the project will improve local environmental health, reduce nutrient discharges to the environment, and serve as a first step in enhancing a predominantly minority, low-income, underserved community.
Project Name: Lake Poitras Park
Proposed Recipient and Address: City of Orlando — 400 South Orange Avenue, Orlando, FL 32801
Requested Amount: $1,000,000
Summary: The project would be a valuable use of taxpayer funds because the funding would be used to develop a new major regional park in the Lake Nona Poitras neighborhood to serve the new neighborhoods developing in the southeast sector of Orlando.
Project Name: 115 kW;Floating Solar Project
Proposed Recipient and Address: Orange County Board of County Government — 201 S. Rosalind Avenue, Orlando, FL 32801 115 kW
Requested Amount: $400,000
Summary: The project would be a valuable use of taxpayer funds because this comprehensive project, located at 9150 Curry Ford Road, will benefit our Orange County Utilities' customers by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and saving on utility costs by 70% per year. It will also play a key role in educating county residents about renewable energies, water technologies, water conservation, and electric vehicles. Orange County residents, businesses, and interested parties will be able to access the facility and take educational tours to learn about floating solar technology and water conservation.
Project Name: Deerwood Elementary School sidewalks in Poinciana
Proposed Recipient and Address: Osceola County — 1 Courthouse Square, Kissimmee, FL 34741
Requested Amount: $944,220
Summary: The project would be a valuable use of taxpayer funds because the funding would be used for the construction of approximately 1.103 miles of 5-ft-wide concrete sidewalks at the adjacent neighborhoods of Deerwood Elementary School.
Project Name: Haines City fire truck upgrades
Proposed Recipient and Address: City of Haines City — 620 E Main Street, Haines City, FL 33844
Requested Amount: $2,000,000
Summary: The project would be a valuable use of taxpayer funds because the funding would be used to replace the fire truck apparatus' for Haines City, which is not only critical for life safety, but a newer vehicle has a smaller carbon footprint and is much more fuel efficient than the older models that the city currently has in use. The materials used for the seat fabric are non-carcinogenic and provide a safer environment for the rescue workers.
Project Name: UCF's Puerto Rico Research Hub
Proposed Recipient and Address: University of Central Florida — 12815 Scholarship Drive, Orlando, FL 32816
Requested Amount: $500,000
Summary: The project would be a valuable use of taxpayer funds because the funds will be used for student participation in undergraduate research at an affordable, accessible high quality higher education institution.
Project Name: Osceola Schools' youth entrepreneurship program
Proposed Recipient and Address: School District of Osceola County — 1200 Vermont Avenue, St. Cloud, FL 34769
Requested Amount: $953,000
Summary: The project would be a valuable use of taxpayer funds because the funding would be used for innovative youth entrepreneurship education program that will create opportunities for economic prosperity by supporting programs and initiatives that build workforce skills, promote youth entrepreneurship, and expose underserved students to career pathways.
Project Name: Transitional housing on SR192
osed Recipient and Address: Hope Partnership Inc. — DBA Community Hope Center Inc. located at 2420 Old Vineland Road, Kissimmee, FL 34746
Requested Amount: $750,000
Summary: The project would be a valuable use of taxpayer funds because this project will provide attainable housing units for those experiencing homelessness and poverty in Osceola County Florida.
Project Name: Winter Haven pedestrian trail expansion
Proposed Recipient and Address: City of Winter Haven — 1500 Lake Howard Drive, SW, Winter Haven, FL 33880
Requested Amount: $750,000
Summary: The project would be a valuable use of taxpayer funds because the funds will be used to rebuild 1st Street to correct the size of travel lanes, add a two-way cycle track / multiuse trail, rain gardens, street trees, lighting, hanging-flower baskets, enlarged sidewalks and new parallel parking. 1st Street is a critical connector, unifying the Northwest Neighborhood and Historic Downtown Lake Wales.
Project Name: City of Lake Wales downtown streetscape improvements
Proposed Recipient and Address: 201 W Central Avenue, Lake Wales, FL 22853
Requested Amount: $750,000
Summary: The project would be a valuable use of taxpayer funds because the funds will be used to rebuild 1st Street to correct the size of travel lanes, add a two-way cycle track/multiuse trail, rain gardens, street trees, lighting, hanging-flower baskets, enlarged sidewalks and new parallel parking. 1st Street is a critical connector, unifying the Northwest Neighborhood and Historic Downtown Lake Wales.
Project Name: Lake Alfred fire truck replacement
Proposed Recipient and Address: City of Lake Alfred — 155 East Pomelo Street, Lake Alfred, FL 33850
Requested Amount: $412,500
Summary: The project would be a valuable use of taxpayer funds because it would replace a fire truck. The new truck will be updated with more dependable equipment that will decrease the time spent in maintenance.
Project Name: Polk County Behavioral Health Improvement Project
Proposed Recipient and Address: Polk County — 330 W. Church Street, Bartow, FL 33830
Requested Amount: $1,000,000
Summary: The project would be a valuable use of taxpayer funds because Polk County's Behavioral Health Improvement Project will provide the structural framework and organizational support necessary to break down silos, enhance and align crisis calls, navigation, and response, build capacity, and remove barriers to increase access to services for high-need and high-risk populations. The ratio of the population to mental health providers in Polk is 1,190 to 1. Florida's ratio is 670 to 1. The national benchmark is 310 to 1.