U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids, D-3rd Dist., today announced five federal grants for Wyandotte County projects.
They were among 14 grants totaling $31.2 million in the 3rd District.
Each of the Davids-requested projects were submitted in tandem with local officials and selected for their potential to improve health and safety in the community, tackle climate change, and bring economic opportunity to the 3rd District, according to Rep. Davids’ office. Appropriations requests are subject to strict transparency and accountability rules.
• The University of Kansas Medical Center will receive $2,594,226 for the purchase of a new MRI scanner allowing community members to participate in the latest research studies for many years to come, and $2,956,507 for a CT scanner allowing researchers to obtain 3-D reconstructions of internal organs, a technology the KU Medical Center currently lacks.
“On behalf of the University of Kansas Medical Center, I would like to express our sincere thanks to Representative Davids for securing this funding,” said Dr. Robert D. Simari, executive vice chancellor for KU Medical Center. “These funds will be used to strengthen KU’s research capabilities, including access to cutting-edge medical equipment for researchers throughout Kansas. These types of medical innovations ensure that all Kansans can benefit from the latest research discoveries, clinical trials and treatment.”
• The Wyandotte County Public Health Department will receive $750,000 to increase access to mental and behavioral health services by integrating mental health services and funding new staff, helping reach more residents with better care.
• The Kansas City, Kansas, Board of Public Utilities will receive $3,707,250 for the purchase of an emergency electric back-up generator at the Nearman Water Treatment Plant, the primary water treatment facility in the event of electrical service disruptions.
• The Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas, will receive $2 million for a Kaw Point Wastewater Treatment Plant project aimed at reducing both long-term operation costs and rates paid by the public.
“We are extremely grateful to Representative Davids for the continued support and funding,” said Interim County Administrator Cheryl Harrison-Lee. “This is an important investment in infrastructure that not only supports our community today but creates great potential for our economic development growth in the future.”
• The Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas, will receive $1 million to address the aging infrastructure of parks in KCK. Specific upgrades include restoring rock work, improvements to shelters and play equipment, and rectifying issues with lighting for safety.
“We are excited and grateful to Representative Davids for the continued support of our parks,” expressed Unified Government Parks and Recreation director, Angel Ferrara. “Parks are a clear reflection of a community’s quality of life. They provide a sense of identity for residents and are an important factor in a community’s livability. Being able to repair and restore aspects of our parks to ensure every member of the community has equitable access to amenities, infrastructure and programming creates a better and safer community for our residents.”
Some of the grants in other parts of the 3rd District include: Olathe will receive $300,000 to upgrade technology in the Olathe Police Department, the city Police Command Post; the city of Shawnee will receive $126,750 to install solar panels at two Shawnee Fire Department locations; the city of Overland Park will receive $5. million for infrastructure upgrades to the College Boulevard Bridge in Overland Park, Kansas, and $4 million for the reconstruction of 167th Street from Switzer Road to Antioch Road; the city of Gardner will receive $3 million for their Gardner wastewater infrastructure project; the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority (KCATA) will receive $4 million to help further incorporate battery electric buses into the already established RideKC network, which covers the urban and suburban regions of the bi-state Kansas City area; the city of Olathe will receive $750,000 to design a new dam and spillway approximately 900 feet downstream of the current Cedar Lake Dam.
- Information from Rep. Davids’ office