Congressman Kean secures nearly $18 million for New Jersey community projects in House funding bills

NEW JERSEY – Congressman Tom Kean Jr., R-7th District, announced Thursday that nearly $18 million in federal funding for 18 community projects across New Jersey’s 7th Congressional District has been included in key House appropriations bills for the upcoming fiscal year.

The proposed funding totals $17,765,906 and includes projects in all six counties represented by the district. The requests were submitted by Kean’s office in April and now await approval by the full House of Representatives.

“I fought to bring this federal funding home to New Jersey because our communities deserve a strong return on the tax dollars they send to Washington,” said Congressman Kean. “These investments will improve roads and bridges, modernize water infrastructure, strengthen public safety, support our first responders, and help towns complete critical projects without placing the full burden on local property taxpayers. My focus will continue to be listening to residents, cutting through the Washington gridlock, and delivering resources that make our communities safer, stronger, and more affordable.”

Community Project Funding allows members of Congress to request federal funding for local government and nonprofit projects that demonstrate community support and meet federal eligibility, ethics and transparency requirements.

The projects included in the House funding bills are:

1. Hillsborough Township Public Safety Interoperable Communications Upgrade — $975,000: Modernize outdated police portable radios with new all-band radios featuring interoperability, Wi-Fi and LTE capabilities to improve communication among police, fire and emergency responders.
2. Town of Phillipsburg Police Technology Equipment — $500,000: Upgrade investigative technology, automatic license plate readers, surveillance systems, cybersecurity, CCTV infrastructure and a mobile drone support vehicle to strengthen public safety and criminal investigations.
3. New Providence Police Radio Replacement and Upgrade — $245,000: Replace 47 aging portable radios to improve communication with emergency dispatch, fire, EMS and emergency management agencies.
4. Chester Highlands Ridge Building Roof Replacement — $137,500: Replace the failing roof on the multi-agency building that houses emergency services, state offices, a regional food pantry and the Chester Historical Society.
5. Passaic River Regional Flooding Mitigation Project — $3 million: Remove obstructions and stabilize stream banks in Berkeley Heights, Long Hill, New Providence, Summit and Chatham Borough to reduce flooding, erosion and infrastructure damage.
6. Springfield Police Department Refurbishment Project — $700,000: Improve the police facility with detention upgrades, HVAC replacement and additional office space to enhance safety and operational efficiency.
7. Renovation of the Frenchtown Borough Police Headquarters — $200,000: Modernize the borough’s aging police station by improving accessibility, infrastructure and detainee facilities.
8. Hope Township Volunteer Fire Department Engine Truck Replacement — $656,406: Purchase a new fire engine to replace a 20-year-old apparatus and improve emergency response capabilities and firefighter safety.
9. Clark Sanitary Sewer Infiltration and Inflow Correction and Rehabilitation Project — $700,000: Rehabilitate aging sewer infrastructure to improve reliability and protect local waterways.
10. Mine Hill Transite Water Main Replacement Project — $850,000: Replace more than 5,300 feet of aging asbestos-cement water main to improve water quality and system reliability.
11. Sparta Township Lead Service Line Replacement Project — $850,000: Replace approximately 210 lead and galvanized service lines to improve drinking water quality and comply with state law.
12. Branchburg Emergency Operations Center — $2.25 million: Renovate the township’s emergency management facility to better serve its growing community and major transportation corridors.
13. Somerville Downtown Capital Improvements — $1.942 million: Improve Division Street Arts Plaza and Giardina Walk with pedestrian enhancements, accessibility upgrades and streetscape improvements.
14. Bernards Pleasant Valley Park Culvert and Paths — $1.84 million: Construct a culvert and new park paths to improve water quality, expand recreation and provide safer access through the park.
15. Bridgewater Cold Food Storage & Food Locker Implementation Project — $420,000: Expand food bank storage capacity and improve food distribution to underserved areas through refrigerated storage and food lockers.
16. Warren County New Law Enforcement and Emergency Services Workforce Training Center — $750,000: Help construct a new training center for police, fire, EMS and emergency management personnel at the county’s Public Safety Campus.
17. Mount Olive Township Police Department Facility Expansion — $750,000: Expand and renovate the police department to improve operations, officer wellness and space for modern policing needs.
18. Watchung Valley Road Sidewalk Improvements — $1 million: Reconstruct approximately 7,000 feet of sidewalk to improve pedestrian safety and accessibility along Valley Road.