Congressman Robert Garcia Announces Funding Submission for Downey Family YMCA

Long Beach, CA - Congressman Robert Garcia (CA-42) today announced his submission of the Downey Family YMCA Community Project for $3 million in federal funding to the House Committee on Appropriations for funding consideration in the FY2024 cycle. The Downey YMCA has served as a critical hub for the Downey community for decades, serving over 10,000 community members annually, many of whom live in underserved communities. 
 
Shuttered during the COVID-19 pandemic, the existing facility was deemed unsafe to reopen without a massive infrastructure refurbishment. The new facility will host desperately needed amenities, with an array of programs to support broader community needs, hosting food distribution centers, childcare and teen scholarships. 
 
“The Downey YMCA serves as much more than just a community gathering place, it is a safe space for the community, a hub of after school activities for children, and even a place for teens to find scholarships. In sum, this YMCA works day after day to improve the lives of everyone in Downey. ” said Congressman Garcia. “This federal funding would provide badly needed renovations to this vital facility.” 
 
“The Downey YMCA has proudly served the entire Downey community since we opened our doors in 1963.  We are excited by the prospect of reopening of a brand-new facility which will support a vibrant, healthy community with engaging youth and teen development programs, before & after school care and senior and special needs activities.” said Dan Powell, Downey Family YMCA Interim Executive Director.
 
Earlier this year,  the House Committee on Appropriations announced that they would begin accepting programmatic and Community Project Funding requests from Members of Congress to meet the needs of communities across the country. Congressman Garcia and his staff have reached out and met with numerous stakeholders from each corner of the district to discuss projects throughout each of the communities the Congressman represents. 
 
For a full list of projects, please visit Congressman Garcia’s website HERE.
 
Under Congressman Garcia’s leadership as Mayor, Long Beach passed measures to support community safety and rebuild infrastructure, legalize and tax cannabis while promoting social equity, and create ethics and redistricting commissions. His signature ballot initiative, Measure A, launched the largest infrastructure repair program in a generation, promoting good-paying union jobs for Southern Californians. 

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