Queens College Center for Artificial Intelligence for Science (AI4Sci)

Queens College Center for Artificial Intelligence for Science (AI4Sci) is sponsored by Research Foundation of CUNY (via Community Project Funding from Congresswoman Grace Meng). This opportunity supports mission-aligned projects and measurable outcomes.

Community Project Funding Submissions | Congresswoman Grace Meng Community Project Funding Submissions Fiscal Year 2027 Appropriations Member Requests Project Name: Queens College Center for Artificial Intelligence for Science (AI4Sci) Proposed Recipient: Research Foundation of CUNY Recipient Address: 231 West 41st Street, New York, New York 10036 Requested Amount: $2,000,000 Project Description: This project will provide technology, equipment, and personnel support for a new Center for AI for Science (AI4Sci) and computational cluster for research and training in the application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) for scientific discovery at CUNY Queens College.

The Center will significantly enhance the College and Borough’s capacity to conduct novel AI-driven research in the natural, social, and physical sciences, enabling faculty and students to pursue innovative investigations in materials science, drug design, cancer biology, landscape evolution science, and quantum technologies.

Moreover, by integrating these research opportunities in our undergraduate and graduate training, the Center will prepare a new generation of scientists and engineers to meet the region’s growing demand for expertise in AI-powered scientific discovery, capitalizing on the concentration of high-tech firms in New York City and the surrounding region. Statement of No Financial Interest (Certification).

Project Name: Queensborough Artificial Intelligence Workforce and Faculty Innovation Initiative Proposed Recipient: Research Foundation of CUNY Recipient Address: 231 West 41st Street, New York, New York 10036 Requested Amount : $3,000,000 Project Description: This project will provide technology, equipment, student programming, and faculty professional development to support the new Jackson and Muriel Lum Artificial Intelligence Hub at Queensborough Community College.

This Artificial Intelligence Hub will serve as a center for research, applied learning, and teaching. Funds will equip the Artificial Intelligence Hub with laboratory infrastructure upgrades, hardware and robotics systems, and applied learning resources.

This project will create programming for students to earn an industry-aligned AI certification through Queensborough’s Engineering Technology Department at the Artificial Intelligence Hub. The programming is expected to reach up to 1,000 students studying STEM through coursework and applied learning experiences.

With this project, Queensborough will be helping to ensure that students from Queens and across New York City gain the skills necessary to thrive in an AI-driven economy while strengthening the local and national workforce pipeline in emerging technologies.

Statement of No Financial Interest (Certification) Project Name: Jackson Heights Community Center Construction Proposed Recipient : New York City Administration for Children's Services Recipient Address: 66 John St #400, New York, NY 10038 Requested Amount : $2,000,000 Project Description: Funding will go towards constructing the first-ever community center in Jackson Heights, Queens.

This center will include classrooms, sports spaces, and community gathering spaces. This 44,000 sq. ft.

site has the potential to serve upwards of 10,000 youth per year with free after-school care during the week and weekends. This project is a good use of taxpayer funds because the community center will serve as a community hub, providing neighborhood resources, including space for community meetings and afterschool programming. Programming for young children provides a safe place to learn and gives parents additional childcare options.

Programming for teens will teach important workforce readiness skills to enhance their future earnings and provide them with long-term financial security.

Statement of No Financial Interest (Certification) Project Name: FDNY Engine 324 Multi-Component Renovation Proposed Recipient: Fire Department of New York Recipient Address: 9 MetroTech Center, Brooklyn, NY 11201 Requested Amount: $2,500,000 Project Description: This project is for a multi-component renovation at Engine 324 in Corona, Queens, including roof and window replacements.

The firehouse has an ongoing problem with water infiltration due to a roof leak over the kitchen and apparatus floor. Leaks pose structural concerns for the building and health and safety concerns for the members stationed in it. Additionally, the firehouse needs new windows.

Working windows keep the firehouse properly secured and ventilated, preserving HVAC efficiency and helping firefighters cool down after exposure to extreme heat on calls. This project is a good use of taxpayer funds because investing in a new roof and window replacement at Engine 324 ensures that members of the house will have adequate facilities from which to provide emergency response to NY-06 constituents.

Good living conditions in firehouses matter because they serve as second homes for firefighters during shifts. Firefighters deserve safe living conditions in their houses, and the public deserves well-functioning facilities to support emergency response.

Statement of No Financial Interest (Certification) Project Name: The Right Response for NYC Proposed Recipient: NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Recipient Address: 42-09 28th Street, Long Island City, New York 11101 Requested Amount: $1,500,000 Project Description: This project aims to inform the public on how to optimize the use of law enforcement services by promoting 988 as the appropriate response for mental health crises—freeing up law enforcement resources and ensuring individuals in crisis receive specialized support.

By diverting appropriate mental health-related calls to 988, law enforcement services can be reserved for life-threatening situations, allowing for a more efficient allocation of resources and reducing the strain on first responders and infrastructure.

This targeted approach not only enhances care by connecting individuals with trained mental health counselors and a continuum of services but also decreases the likelihood of repeat emergencies and lowers long-term costs. The $1. 5M in requested funding will support a citywide public messaging campaign, The Right Response for NYC, to raise awareness of 988 as the go-to resource for mental health needs.

This initiative lifts a substantial burden from law enforcement, enabling the NYPD to focus on core public safety responsibilities instead of responding to non-criminal mental health situations.

Statement of No Financial Interest (Certification) Project Name: Public Safety Communications Modernization Initiative Proposed Recipient : Queens Borough Safety Patrol, Inc. Recipient Address: 77-43 Main Street, Flushing, New York 11367 Requested Amount : $1,300,000 Project Description: This project will upgrade and modernize the Queens Borough Safety Patrol’s radio communications system by deploying portable radios, mobile units, and dedicated repeater systems.

This enables the network to operate on a single platform and frequency, establishing a fully interoperable and mission-critical network. Standardized communication equipment will enable coordinated emergency response with the NYPD, enhance training consistency, and improve operational readiness, allowing all personnel and volunteers to act efficiently and effectively under uniform procedures.

This project is a good use of taxpayer funds because it will strengthen public safety. Upgrading Queens Borough Safety Patrol’s radio communication system will ensure rapid, coordinated action across divisions. A fully integrated, interoperable system enables Queens Borough Safety Patrol to act quickly and efficiently alongside the NYPD.

This strengthens community safety by ensuring neighborhoods are better prepared, more secure, and protected, especially at a time when public safety is increasingly critical and communities rely on dependable, rapid, and coordinated emergency response.

Statement of No Financial Interest (Certification) Project Name: Queensborough Community College Labs Reconstruction Proposed Recipient: Research Foundation of CUNY Recipient Address: 231 West 41st Street New York, NY 10036 Requested Amount: $8,700,000. 00 Project Description: This project will renovate the STEM labs in the Science Building at CUNY Queensborough Community College (QCC).

The reconstruction will provide modern, functional instructional facilities and address long standing deficiencies in the physics laboratories, allowing the space and equipment to be fully optimized and properly maintained moving forward.

Upgrading these labs is essential to support current teaching needs, accommodate growing enrollment, and ensure that the instructional environment aligns with contemporary standards for safety, efficiency, and student learning. This project is a good use of taxpayer funds because these upgrades will directly benefit students by ensuring labs are well prepared, properly equipped, and conducive to high quality instruction.

A modernized preparation room and improved laboratory infrastructure will strengthen the training environment and support the growing academic needs of the college. A modernized preparation room and improved laboratory infrastructure will strengthen the training environment and support the growing academic needs of QCC.

Statement of No Financial Interest (Certification) Project Name: Latimer Gardens Roof Replacement Proposed Recipient: New York City Housing Authority Recipient Address: 90 Church Street, New York City, NY 10007 Requested Amount: $2,500,000 Project Description: Funding would support the renovation and replacement to address the leaking roof at the New York City Housing Authority’s (NYCHA) Latimer Gardens community center.

Residents at Latimer Gardens rely on the facility’s community center for recreation, classes, after-school programming for children, and a warm, safe space for seniors. This is a good use of taxpayer funds because the roof replacement will help return full programming and community space utilization to the center. Community Centers provide essential programming and serve as neighborhood gathering places.

Investments in NYCHA spaces have a direct, positive impact on the health and well-being of residents in NY-06, with the greatest impact on those living in Latimer Gardens. Overall, this investment would improve the quality of life for residents in NYCHA and adjacent communities.

Statement of No Financial Interest (Certification) Project Name: Bland Houses Building Line Initiative Proposed Recipient: New York City Housing Authority Recipient Address: 90 Church Street, New York City, NY 10007 Requested Amount: $1,000,000 Project Description: Funding would support the plumbing stack replacement of old water pipes at the New York City Housing Authority’s (NYCHA) Bland Houses.

These plumbing lines are the source of chronic mold and leaks in the facility. Replacing them will decrease the number of work orders, reducing the need to spend future funds on mitigating the issues. This will improve residents’ quality of life by reducing household disruptions and the risk of mold-related health issues.

Investments in NYCHA spaces have a direct, positive impact on the health, well-being, and quality of life of residents in NYCHA and adjacent communities across NY-06.

Statement of No Financial Interest (Certification) Project Name: Pomonok Houses Safety and Security Infrastructure Proposed Recipient: New York City Housing Authority Recipient Address: 90 Church Street, New York City, NY 10007 Requested Amount: $4,000,000 Project Description: Funding will support upgrades to the safety and security at New York City Housing Authority’s (NYCHA) Pomonok Houses.

These upgrades will include the installation of additional safety features, including CCTV cameras, a layered access entrance system, a storefront entrance, an intercom system, and interior and/or exterior lighting around building entrances. This is a good use of taxpayer funds because upgrades will directly increase the safety and security for the residents at Pomonok Houses.

Activations and investments in NYCHA spaces have a direct, positive impact on the health and well-being of residents in NY-06 and will have the greatest impact on those living in Pomonok Houses. Overall, this investment would improve the quality of life for residents in NYCHA and adjacent communities.

Statement of No Financial Interest (Certification) Project Name: Evidence-Based Criminal Justice Diversion Program for People with Developmental Disabilities Proposed Recipient: The New York Foundling Recipient Address: 35-25 30th Avenue, Astoria, New York 11103 Requested Amount: $1,504,350 Project Description: This initiative addresses a critical gap in the current justice system by diverting eligible defendants into evidence-based supervision and treatment tailored to their specific cognitive and behavioral needs.

By integrating Multisystemic Therapy (MST) and Skills System Therapy (SST), the program provides intensive interventions designed to improve emotional regulation and reduce justice involvement. The Queens District Attorney plays a central role throughout the project, from the initial identification of eligible candidates to collaborating with judges and case managers to ensure strict program compliance and accountability.

This project is a good use of federal taxpayer dollars because it reduces costly jail stays while addressing the root causes of justice involvement through treatment, supervision, and community-based support. By diverting eligible individuals from Rikers Island and instead into evidence-based supervision and treatment, this program will save the community more than $7 million a year.

These programs enhance public safety, reduce recidivism, improve outcomes for people with disabilities, and promote more efficient and effective administration of justice.

Statement of No Financial Interest (Certification) Proposed Recipient: Research Foundation of CUNY Recipient Address: 231 West 41st Street, New York, New York 10036 Requested Amount: $800,000 Project Description: FloodNet is a collaborative partnership between NYU, CUNY, and the City of New York dedicated to developing real-time urban flood monitoring tools, including specialized sensors, networking infrastructure, and accessible data visualizations.

This project is a good use of taxpayer funds because FloodNet sensors provide critical, actionable insights to the National Weather Service and NYC emergency agencies, who previously struggled with data gaps during flash flood events.

This information is shared through a public dashboard, allowing community-based organizations and residents—particularly in high-risk areas like Queens—to respond to emergencies in real time and advocate for better mitigation infrastructure.

Statement of No Financial Interest (Certification) Project Name: Shop Local Queens Proposed Recipient: New York City Department of Small Business Services Recipient Address: 1 Liberty Plaza, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10006 Requested Amount: $1,000,000 Project Description: This proposal would invest $1 million in commercial revitalization efforts in Jackson Heights, Queens, to strengthen the business corridor on 37th Road between Broadway Avenue and 74th Street.

This project is a good use of taxpayer funds because efforts fund commercial lighting and streetscape revitalization to increase foot traffic, enhance neighborhood identity, and create more welcoming and vibrant commercial corridors for residents, visitors, and small businesses.

These will increase the commercial activity of small businesses in NY-06 and enhance the identity of the neighborhood for the benefit of merchants, visitors, and residents.

Statement of No Financial Interest (Certification) Project Name: FDNY Engine 299 Renovation Proposed Recipient: Fire Department of New York Recipient Address: 9 MetroTech Center, Brooklyn, NY 11201 Requested Amount: $375,000 Project Description: This project will replace the window at Engine 299 in Fresh Meadows, Queens. The current windows at this facility are outdated and, in some cases, do not open properly.

Funding will help upgrade this facility by installing modern, operable windows. This project is a good use of taxpayer funds because working windows are essential to properly securing and ventilating the firehouse. They also preserve HVAC efficiency, helping firefighters cool down after exposure to extreme heat during calls.

FDNY firefighters work 24-hour shifts, and their firehouses serve as a “second home” when they are not on call. Firefighters deserve comfortable living conditions at their houses, and the public deserves well-functioning facilities to support emergency response.

Statement of No Financial Interest (Certification) Project Name: State-of-the-Art Expansion of the Queens College Nanofabrication Facility Proposed Recipient: Research Foundation of CUNY Recipient Address: 231 West 41st Street, New York, New York 10036 Requested Amount: $2,000,000 Project Description: This project will transform the Queens College Nanofabrication Facility through the acquisition of a state-of-the-art electron beam lithography system, complemented by advanced thin-film deposition and etching tools.

These upgrades will significantly expand nanofabrication capabilities and accelerate research at Queens College and partner academic institutions across the New York City region in strategic areas such as semiconductors, photonics, quantum science, and biotechnology.

This project is a good use of taxpayer funds because it builds upon existing federal investments to expand critical research and workforce training infrastructure in New York City. The upgraded facility will serve as a shared resource for institutions across Queens, New York City, and Long Island, supporting research, innovation, and workforce preparation in semiconductor technologies and advanced microelectronics.

Importantly, this investment will deliver long-term public value by strengthening the regional innovation ecosystem, expanding opportunities for students to gain hands-on training in advanced manufacturing technologies, and supporting New York State’s growing role in the domestic semiconductor supply chain.

Statement of No Financial Interest (Certification) Project Name: Queens Applied Technology, Innovation, and Community Development Project Proposed Recipient: Research Foundation of CUNY Recipient Address: 231 West 41st Street, New York, New York 10036 Requested Amount: $1,000,000 Project Description: This project will establish the Artificial Intelligence for Public Good Lab at Queens College to transition theoretical research into the pilot deployment and experimental validation of emerging technologies.

It will launch a digital health innovation accelerator and provide modernization R&D for small businesses, bridging the gap between academic inquiry and practical implementation within New York’s Sixth Congressional District.

Finally, this initiative will synchronize public and private sector efforts through an annual innovation convening, transforming institutional research capacity into measurable economic growth and technological leadership. This project is a good use of taxpayer funds because it builds upon existing federal investments to expand critical research in Queens.

The Artificial Intelligence for Public Good Lab at Queens College will focus on applied research and cutting-edge technology deployment. The lab will catalyze an innovation pipeline to move early-stage ventures from high-level concept development to rigorous prototype refinement and real-world pilot testing.

This includes a digital health innovation accelerator that pairs local healthcare institutions with researchers to pioneer new diagnostic and service-delivery tools. This investment transforms institutional research capacity into measurable public benefit, advancing American leadership in science and technology.

Statement of No Financial Interest (Certification) Project Name: SBDC at Queens College Proposed Recipient: Research Foundation of CUNY Recipient Address: 231 West 41st Street, New York, New York 10036 Requested Amount: $1,199,013 Project Description: Launched in May 2019, the SBDC at Queens College serves Northeast Queens. To maintain services, the SBDC must relocate from Kissena Hall to a more accessible space in Queens Hall.

Funding will renovate the new Queens Hall space to include a reception area, a conference room, and four dedicated staff offices, ensuring the SBDC can continue its mission of supporting local small business owners. This project is a good use of taxpayer funds because funding will go toward renovating an existing campus space to accommodate the new SBDC at Queens College.

The SBDC plays a key role in ensuring that local businesses have access to resources and trained counselors who provide critical services to address the challenges and opportunities small business owners face. According to America’s SBDC, SBDCs help create over 90,000 new jobs annually. Investing in this project will help increase support for local businesses, strengthening the local job market and the economy.

Statement of No Financial Interest (Certification) Project Name: CCNS Bayside Older Adult Center Infrastructure Improvements Proposed Recipient: New York City Department for the Aging Recipient Address: 2 Lafayette Street, 7th Floor, New York, NY 10007 Requested Amount: $400,000 Project Description : Funding would support the installation of rain screens and the construction of an enhanced parapet wall at the west side of the CCNS Bayside Older Adult Center.

Funding will also go toward surface and site drainage, paving, and brick and cast-iron fencing. This will help to enhance the center by providing an outdoor exercise and activity room in the west side yard. This project is a good use of taxpayer funds because the New York City Department for the Aging (NYC Aging) provides services to nearly 2 million older adults across the five boroughs.

These services are free of charge and ensure that New Yorkers over 60 have access to meals, case assistance, socialization, and mental health support. Structural and infrastructure improvements to Older Adult Centers ensure that NYC’s increasing older adult population has viable and safe spaces to gather, access meals and services, and age in place in the communities they have called home.

Keeping these spaces up to date and accessible to the overall population is beneficial not only to current older adults but also to future community residents who will one day use them as they age.

Statement of No Financial Interest (Certification) Project Name: Cunningham Bocce Court Proposed Recipient : New York City Department of Parks & Recreation Recipient Address: 830 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10065 Requested Amount: $2,910,000 Project Description: This project is a good use of taxpayer funds because it will reconstruct two bocce courts in Cunningham Park.

The work will also include a new sitting area, landscaping and planting, asphalt path reconstruction, security lighting, drainage and water utilities, and rain shelters. The area has a fast-growing senior population, so recreational activities that are accessible and cater to people of all ages are critical, renovating this park area will achieve this.

This project will help reinvigorate a local community space, benefiting the health and wellbeing of all Queens residents.

Statement of No Financial Interest (Certification) Project Name: Youth Mentorship and Crime Prevention Program Proposed Recipient: All About Kindness, Inc. Recipient Address: 209-34 Northern Blvd, Unit 1157, Bayside, New York 11361 Requested Amount: $1,150,000 Project Description: This project supports youth crime prevention and community safety efforts in Queens by providing structured mentorship and after-school programming for young people.

Working in partnership with local New York City Police Department (NYPD) precincts, the initiative will provide positive engagement opportunities that strengthen relationships between youth and law enforcement while promoting accountability, leadership, and respect for the law.

By keeping young people involved in constructive activities and connecting them with mentors and law enforcement officers, the program helps deter youth involvement in crime and strengthens trust between families, police, and the broader community. This investment represents a cost-effective approach to improving public safety by supporting prevention-focused programming that benefits neighborhoods across the district.

Statement of No Financial Interest (Certification) Fiscal Year 2026 Appropriations Member Requests Project Name: Queensborough Community College Childcare Center Proposed Recipient: Research Foundation of CUNY / Queensborough Community College CUNY Recipient Address: 222-05 56th Avenue Bayside, NY 11364 Requested Amount: $5,901,182 Project Description: The construction of this center will ensure that students, faculty, staff, and the community have access to high-quality childcare development opportunities.

For parents, one of the biggest barriers to college enrollment and completion is childcare. The Center will ensure that residents of the Borough are able to achieve the same socioeconomic mobility outcomes as those students who are not parents.

Additionally, post-graduate outcome data shows that ten years after graduation, over 90 percent of Queensborough alumni live and work in New York State, contributing to both the local and state economies. Furthermore, a report conducted by the New York City Comptroller found that every $1 dollar invested in CUNY generates a $15 dollar return for the economy. Statement of No Financial Interest (Certification).

Project Name: Apparatus & Multi-Component Renovation of Squad 288 Proposed Recipient: Fire Department of New York Recipient Address: 9 MetroTech Center, Brooklyn, NY 11201 Requested Amount: $ 4,600,000 Project Description : This initiative involves a multi-component capital investment in Station 288 located in Maspeth, Queens.

More specifically, it aims to replace the apparatus floor and overhaul the electrical and mechanical systems within the firehouse. The apparatus floor is the main space of the firehouse as it houses all of the specialty vehicles, bunker gear, workbenches, tools, equipment, and all other useful items can be found on this floor.

With the facility dating back to 1914, exceeding a century in age, prioritizing its longevity through investment is crucial to sustaining the distinctive services offered by Station 288/Hazmat 1. Statement of No Financial Interest (Certification).

Project Name: Multi-Component Renovation of Engine 305/Ladder 151 Proposed Recipient: Fire Department of New York Recipient Address: 9 MetroTech Center, Brooklyn, NY 11201 Requested Amount: $ 2,500,000 Project Description : This project will provide capital investment in Engine 305/Ladder 151, located in Forest Hills, Queens.

Specifically, this project will repair the interior and exterior of the building, and replace the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system. With the facility dating back to 1924, exceeding a century in age, prioritizing its longevity through investment is crucial to sustaining the distinctive services offered by Engine 305/Ladder 151. Statement of No Financial Interest (Certification).

Project Name : Queens Technology and Innovation Hub Proposed Recipient : Research Foundation of CUNY/ Queens College CUNY Recipient Address : 65-30 Kissena Blvd, Flushing, NY 11367 Requested Amount : $2,000,000 Project Description : The funding would expand the Tech Incubator at Queens College (TIQC), creating a collaborative ecosystem, advanced training facilities, and community impact programs.

The expanded TIQC will serve as the central hub for technology and innovation in Queens, helping to foster a network that connects public and private sectors, and catalyzes economic and social development through technology. Statement of No Financial Interest (Certification).

Project Name : Queens Nanofabrication Facility Proposed Recipient : Research Foundation of CUNY/ Queens College CUNY Recipient Address : 65-30 Kissena Blvd, Flushing, NY 11367 Requested Amount : $2,000,000 Project Description : This project will provide technology, equipment, and personnel for a new state-of-the-art cleanroom facility at CUNY Queens College, serving as a critical hub for cutting-edge nanofabrication research.

The facility will significantly enhance the College's capacity to conduct original research in micro- and nanotechnology, enabling faculty and students to pursue innovative investigations in semiconductor device design, materials science, and quantum technologies.

In alignment with the national priorities articulated to expand domestic semiconductor research and manufacturing, the proposed cleanroom will position Queens College as a vital contributor to the advancement of microelectronics research in the United States.

Additionally, by integrating hands-on research experiences with the student population, the project will help prepare a new generation of scientists and engineers to meet the region’s growing demand for expertise in advanced microelectronics, driven by the concentration of high-tech firms in New York State and the surrounding region. Statement of No Financial Interest (Certification).

Project Name : Public Safety and Emergency Management - Mobile Command Center (MCC) Proposed Recipient : New York City Police Department Recipient Address : One Police Plaza, Legal Bureau, Room 1406, New York, NY 10038 Requested Amount : $ 2,500,000 Project Description : The Public Safety and Emergency Management - Mobile Command Center (MCC) is a large platform command center with mission critical and life-safety technology capabilities utilized to support large scale events, emergency response, and operate on scene for long periods of times by extending the advanced capabilities of the Private Safety Network (PSN), NYC 911, and Emergency Response services to field locations.

The large platform vehicle is designed for support incidents and events throughout the city and surrounding areas, can be deployed by two resources and will have the ability to support up to 24 onboard personnel as a command center, command post or operational post for extended periods of time as needed. Statement of No Financial Interest (Certification).

Project Name : The Right Response for NYC Proposed Recipient : NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Recipient Address : 42-09 28th Street, Long Island City, NY 11101 Requested Amount : $ 1,800,000 Project Description : This project aims to inform the public on how to optimize the use of law enforcement services by promoting 988 as the appropriate response for mental health crises—freeing up law enforcement resources and ensuring individuals in crisis receive specialized support.

By diverting appropriate mental health-related calls to 988, law enforcement services can be reserved for life-threatening situations, allowing for a more efficient allocation of resources and reducing the strain on first responders and infrastructure.

This targeted approach not only enhances care by connecting individuals with trained mental health counselors and a continuum of services but also decreases the likelihood of repeat emergencies and lowers long-term costs. The $1. 8M in anticipated funding will support a citywide public messaging campaign, The Right Response for NYC, to raise awareness of 988 as the go-to resource for mental health needs.

This initiative lifts a substantial burden from law enforcement, enabling the NYPD to focus on core public safety responsibilities instead of responding to non-criminal mental health situations. Statement of No Financial Interest (Certification).

Project Name : NYPD Queens Explorer Program Proposed Recipient : New York City Police Department Recipient Address : One Police Plaza, Room 1104, New York, NY 10038 Requested Amount : $3,000,000 Project Description : The Explorer Program benefits the children and young adults of the Congressional District 6. The program, geared for ages 14 to 20, often results in strengthening ties between the community and police.

Explorers are taught the importance of higher education, self-discipline, and respect for diversity and human dignity through training, involvement in community service projects, and other Exploring events.

The positive interaction of Explorers and law enforcement officers helps young adults see officers as fellow human beings, and allows greater opportunities to build positive relationships between the New York City Police Department and the city's diverse communities. Statement of No Financial Interest (Certification).

Project Name : The Boys’ Club of New York’s STEM Programming Proposed Recipient : The Boys’ Club of New York Recipient Address : 81-15 164th St, Jamaica, NY 11432 Requested Amount : $225,000 Project Description : A majority of members lack access to high quality STEM education in the schools they attend. In addition, many do not have access to information and resources on how to enter the STEM field.

BCNY recognizes the systemic barriers that boys of color face every day. In responding to their needs, BCNY offers wrap-around services and comprehensive academic support, which include STEM programming. Statement of No Financial Interest (Certification).

Project Name : Fostering Coastal Resilience in Flushing Waterways, Queens, NY Proposed Recipient : The Guardians of Flushing Bay, Inc. Requested Amoun t: $1,132,351 Project Description : The communities surrounding Flushing Meadows Corona Park (FMCP) face a multitude of challenges. FMCP—a park formed around Flushing Bay and Flushing Creek and their historic wetlands—is one of the most flood-prone parks in the city.

An easily overwhelmed sewer system and a high water table contribute to grave neighborhood flooding issues, where rainwater can pour into homes and streets during heavy rainfall. One-tenth of an inch of rain an hour can trigger combined sewer overflow events, where two billion gallons of raw sewage and contaminated stormwater flow into Flushing Bay and Flushing Creek every year.

GoFB believes that solutions for fixing these challenges must stem from communities closest to the issue. However, a lack of access to Flushing Bay and Flushing Creek prevent many residents from understanding the magnitude, scale and root causes of neighborhood vulnerability and coastal resiliency. Costal Resilience Hub proposes a way forward.

By functioning as a gathering space, a floating classroom and an environmental laboratory, the Hub works to connect residents to their most pressing resiliency issues, provide space to co-create solutions to those issues and monitor the health and wellbeing of our local waterway. Statement of No Financial Interest (Certification).

Project Name : Join Artemis: Head to the Moon with the New York Hall of Science Proposed Recipient : New York Hall of Science Recipient Address : 47-01 111th Street, Corona, NY 11368 Requested Amount : $1,500,000 Project