Community Project Funding

Members of the House of Representatives who are submitting Community Project Funding (CPF) requests to the House Appropriations Committee for Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 are required to publish online their CPF requests, as well as letters to the Committee certifying that the Member does not have a financial interest in the requested projects.

Congressman Mrvan is committed to being a good steward of taxpayer dollars and is pleased that the Committee has instituted stringent transparency measures to achieve this important task.

Below, please find a list of Congressman Mrvan’s CPF requests for FY 2022 plus project details and financial disclosures.

Community Project Funding Request for Environmental Infrastructure – Calumet Region, IN
Army Corps of Engineers (Civil) – Construction
231 South LaSalle Street, Chicago, IL 60604
Requested Amount:  $10,000,000

Explanation of Request:
This project provides assistance to non-federal interests who have environmental infrastructure needs across Lake and Porter Counties, Indiana. These needs include the development and protection of water supply and wastewater systems; combined sewer overflows; and remediation of adverse water quality impacts and storm water impacts from existing wastewater systems. Projects identified as appropriate under this authorization include improvements to wastewater and water supply treatment, distribution, and related facilities.

Funding allocated to Calumet Region Environmental Infrastructure provides for partnerships between the USACE and the communities in Lake and Porter Counties, to address critical water, sanitary sewer, stormwater sewer infrastructure improvements designed to alleviate deteriorated conditions, increase the efficacy of existing systems, and reverse adverse water quality impacts.  Lake and Porter Counties are located along the southern coast of Lake Michigan; the projects constructed under this authority lead to water quality improvements within this area of the Great Lakes.  Requested funds will allow the Chicago District to continue these partnerships with nonfederal sponsors to address these infrastructure needs. 

Community Project Funding Request for Confined Disposal Facility – Indiana Harbor
Army Corps of Engineers (Civil) – Construction
231 South LaSalle Street, Chicago, IL 60604
Requested Amount:  $18,395,000

Explanation of Request:
Construction of the CDF Phase 2 perimeter dikes to the full height of approximately 11 feet, to expand the CDF capacity for continued channel maintenance.  Support additional Phase 2 activities including:  removal and replacement of existing air monitors, ramps, gravel road on top of the dike, rip rap of the interior slope and topsoil and seeding of the exterior side slopes.

The Indiana Harbor Confined Disposal Facility (CDF) contains the backlog and annual maintenance navigational dredging associated with the Indiana Harbor and Canal.  The Indiana Harbor contains the largest steelmaking complex in North American (ArcelorMittal, now Cleveland Cliffs).  The project was not dredged between 1972 and 2012.  Dredging efforts began in 2012, upon the completion of the CDF Phase I.  Phase I capacity will be reached in 2021.  Without the full construction of Phase II to allow increased capacity, USACE Navigation /O&M dredging activities will be negatively impacted as will economic activity in Indiana Harbor.

Community Project Funding Request for Burns Waterway Harbor
Army Corps of Engineers (Civil) – Operation and Maintenance: Navigation
231 South LaSalle Street, Chicago, IL 60604
Requested Amount:  $1,597,000

Explanation of Request:
Burns Waterway Harbor serves as a commercial harbor. Project depth is 30 feet in the approach channel, 28 feet in the outer harbor, and 27 feet in both harbor arms. Approximately 5,830 feet of rubble mound breakwater structures. 2.5 miles of federal channel combined within the approach, outer harbor, and east and west arms.  Maintenance dredging of approximately 80,000 cubic yards needs to be removed annually from the approach channel.

O&M funding for Burns Waterway Harbor support the Operation and maintenance of existing structures, including construction of the awarded maintenance dredging, construction management and if funded, additional stone placement along the breakwater with inhouse fleet.

This project provides safe refuge for inland river barges traveling between Gary Harbor, Indiana Harbor, and Calumet Harbor. Waterborne transportation facilitated by the harbor supports $233.9M in business revenue, 949 direct, indirect, and induced jobs, and $64.5M in labor income to the transportation sector. Commodities handled by the harbor support $15B in business revenue, 81,076 direct, indirect, and induced jobs, and $4.2B in labor income.

Community Project Funding Request for Indiana Harbor
Army Corps of Engineers (Civil) – Operation and Maintenance: Navigation
231 South LaSalle Street, Chicago, IL 60604
Requested Amount:  $5,093,000

Explanation of Request:
Indiana Harbor, IN serves as a commercial harbor. Project depth is 29 feet in the approach channel, 28 feet in the turning basin, 27 feet in the outer dock area, and 22 feet within the main and two branch channels.  Operation and maintenance of existing structures, including wildlife exclusion, air monitoring, groundwater gradient control system, and water treatment. Dredging will continue upon completion of the CDF dike raise.

O&M activities associated with Indiana Harbor, IN are in coordination with the Indiana Harbor Confined Disposal Facility (CDF), which contains the backlog and annual maintenance navigational dredging associated with the Indiana Harbor and Canal. Activities include the operations and maintenance of existing structures, including wildlife exclusion, air monitoring, groundwater gradient control system, and water treatment. The Indiana Harbor contains the largest steelmaking complex in North American (ArcelorMittal, now Cleveland Cliffs).  Funding FY2022 activities supports the USACE-Chicago District’s mission at Indiana Harbor.

Community Project Funding Request for Indiana Shoreline 
Army Corps of Engineers (Civil) – Construction
231 South LaSalle Street, Chicago, IL 60604
Requested Amount:  $2,500,000

Explanation of Request:
The movement of sand along the shoreline at Indiana Dunes National Park (IDNP) has been interrupted by the Michigan City harbor structures causing accelerated erosion of the beach and dunes west of these federal harbor structures. The project calls for placement of sand from an approved inland source along the shoreline as mitigation for the littoral drift losses and the resulting increased erosion caused by the harbor structures. The authorized project includes an initial beach nourishment placement of 264,500 cubic yards of material and periodic re-nourishment of 264,500 cubic yards of material at five-year intervals over a period of 50 years. The project also includes long-term monitoring of the density and distribution of benthic invertebrates during beach placement activities to ensure no negative impacts on the reproduction of fish.

Placement of sand along the identified IDNP segment addresses erosion as mentioned and as affected by elevated lake levels in Lake Michigan.  Continued investment in beach nourishment activities is necessary to rebuild lost shoreline and protect resources inland. 

Community Project Funding Request for Gary Police Department Technology Upgrades
Department of Justice – Community Oriented Policing Services: Technology and Equipment
Gary Police Department:  555 Polk Street, Gary, Indiana  46402
Requested Amount:  $500,000

Explanation of Request:
Law enforcement practices and policing have changed, as there is an increased need to utilize existing technologies to effectively and efficiently maintain and enhance public safety.  To better equip its officers, the Gary Police Department is in need of laptops/mobile data terminals to ensure each officer possesses an individual unit, thereby eliminating the current shared system employed to date.  The requested automatic license plate readers will assist officers in their ability to solve crimes and, over time, has the potential to reduce crime within the city.

Community Project Funding Request for Equipment Acquisition – Gary/Chicago International Airport
Department of Transportation – Airport Improvement Program
Gary/Chicago International Airport:  6001 Airport Road; Gary, Indiana 46406
Requested Amount:  $2,000,000

Explanation of Request:
The Equipment Acquisition – Gary/Chicago International Airport (Airport) project includes the acquisition of up to four snow removal and/or firefighting units.  The acquisition of this equipment will result in added safety benefits resulting from having equipment that provides more reliable and more efficient response to snow removal and crash/fire/rescue response. The majority of the Airport’s existing fleet consists of units that are 20 years or older, past their useful life, and much of the snow removal equipment are units that were surplus from the Chicago Department of Aviation.  The new equipment will also reduce the Airport’s annual maintenance expenses that are incurred while maintaining the old equipment.

The acquisition of this equipment will result in added safety benefits resulting from having equipment that provides more reliable and more efficient response to snow removal and crash/fire/rescue response.  The majority of the Airport’s existing fleet consists of units that are 20 years or older, past their useful life, and much of the snow removal equipment are units that were surplus from the Chicago Department of Aviation.  The new equipment will also reduce the Airport’s annual maintenance expenses that are incurred while maintaining the old equipment.

Community Project Funding Request for Marquette Greenway Trail/Cline Avenue to Bridge Street Segment
Department of Transportation – Local Transportation Priorities
City of Gary: 401 Broadway, Gary, Indiana 46402
Requested Amount:  $682,080

Explanation of Request:
The Marquette Greenway Trail is a component of the Marquette Plan, a regional lakeshore reinvestment strategy within Indiana’s First Congressional District.  Much effort has been made to date to invest in the design and construction of the Marquette Greenway Trail in several of the communities within the trail’s proposed route.  

The proposed project focuses on the Planning and Environmental Review Phase to address the remaining gap in the Gary section of the trail, from Bridge Street east to the Gary/Hammond municipal border.   Funding secured for the Planning and Environmental Review phase through Community Project Funding will support Gary’s future efforts to secure funds for construction through other available funding opportunities.  As an underserved, low-income, environmental justice community, the Marquette Greenway Trail will provide economic and environmental benefits within the City once completed.  

Investments in this project and ultimately the completion of the Marquette Greenway Trail will provide a safer and more equitable non-motorized transportation network, cleaner, climate change sensitive non-motorized transportation options, and support for an underserved community where a significant portion of the population has health challenges. Overall improvements also include those in non-motorized mobility as many of Gary’s residents do not own their own vehicle which limits their access to jobs, goods, services and education and job training opportunities. In addition, improved trails and bicycle and pedestrian facilities connected to the Marquette Greenway Trail will provide more opportunities for recreation, fitness and connectivity to parks and natural areas within the City.  The completion of the Marquette Trail sections through Gary is featured in and a high priority of the Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan the City is currently developing.  

Community Project Funding Request for Instructional Lab Upgrades at the University of Saint Francis – Crown Point
Health Resources and Services Administration – Health Facilities Construction and Equipment
University of Saint Francis:  2701 Spring Street, Fort Wayne, Indiana  46806; Project Address: University of Saint Francis – Crown Point Campus, 12800 Mississippi Street, Crown Point, Indiana  46307
Requested Amount:  $234,400

Explanation of Request:
Headquartered in Fort Wayne, Indiana, the University of Saint Francis (USF) established a campus in Crown Point, Indiana, in 2006, to provide educational opportunities in the health care field.  The success of these programs saw increased enrollment in subsequent years; currently the facility is now at capacity and unable to accommodate additional students or new programming. A partnership with Franciscan Alliance has allowed UCF-Crown Point to break ground on a new, expanded facility to train and help meet the need for health care professionals in Northwest Indiana while offering new Associate degrees and increasing the capacity of UCF-Crown Point’s Nursing program.  Funding requested will support the purchase and acquisition of lab equipment and supplies for the new facility’s Nursing Simulation Lab and Ultrasound Lab.

The availability of the Nursing Simulation Lab and Ultrasound Lab within the expanded course offerings at USF-Crown Point will prove beneficial to addressing the educational and income gaps present within Northwest Indiana.  The majority of students at this campus are non-traditional students.  In Fall 2020, 41% of students were first-generation, 36% were an underrepresented minority, and 75% were over the age of 25.  The programming available at the Crown Point campus provides residents an opportunity to earn a degree in a field with high job prospects and salary.  This equipment request supports the effort to create a strong pool of trained medical technologists to serve the region’s health needs while laying the foundation to address the greater health care professional shortage.

Community Project Funding Request for the To the Finish Line Initiative at Ivy Tech Community Colleges Campus in Lake County, Indiana 
Postsecondary Education Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education
Ivy Tech Community College – Lake County Campus: 410 East Columbus Drive, East Chicago, Indiana 46312
Requested Amount:  $1,190,000

Explanation of Request:
The Ivy Tech Community College Lake County Campus/To the Finish Line Initiative is a comprehensive academic and holistic student support model designed to increase the number of students who achieve a credential to secure employment in one of the five in-demand job industries.  This initiative will deliver a strong return on investment of taxpayer funding, advancing regional economic development, building a highly skilled local workforce ready to respond to employer demand, closing the gap on income inequalities, and providing upward mobility for the working poor and poverty stricken households.

The To the Finish Line Initiative is designed to address the education and income gaps in IN01 through the creation of a student-focused support program.  Ivy Tech Community College Lake County Campus and its community partners – Goodwill Industries, North Township Trustee, Urban League of Northwest Indiana, and the Salvation Army Lake County – developed this program to ensure students are provided a strong pathway to job placement and career advancement.