LOS ANGELES, CA — Yesterday, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) announced that he secured over $24.3 million in federal funding for 25 projects across Los Angeles and Orange County through Fiscal Year 2026 appropriations bills. This funding is part of the $241,794,366 in total Congressionally Directed Spending funding that Padilla delivered for California for FY 2026.
“I am proud to help secure millions in federal funding to support transformative projects that will deliver lasting improvements for Los Angeles and Orange County communities,” said Senator Padilla. “These investments will support local governments and non-profits working on the ground in our communities. They will help address water quality challenges, strengthen public safety and emergency response efforts, improve affordable housing options, and support critical workforce development initiatives. As Californians struggle with the rising cost of living under President Trump’s harmful economic agenda, these crucial investments will make a tangible difference for Southern California residents.”
Projects across Los Angeles and Orange County that will receive federal funding include:
- San Gabriel Basin Restoration Fund – $3.24 million: This funding will be used to continue cleanup activities underway and to address cleanup of orphan sites and non-“Record of Decision” projects where there is no responsible party identified or where the responsible party does not have the resources to do the work.
- Solar and Energy Storage for Central Library – $1.70 million: This project will install innovative solar and energy storage systems on Pasadena’s Central Library to provide renewable energy and enhance grid resilience.
- Community Crisis Response Program – $1.49 million: This funding will be used to expand the City of Long Beach’s Community Crisis Response Program, which responds to non-emergency 911 calls.
- Nueva Maravilla Extreme Heat Measures-Cooling Equipment and Installation – $1.20 million: This funding supports the installation of cooling equipment at the Nueva Maravilla Public Housing Development in East Los Angeles.
- Water Bank Study (Las Virgenes Municipal Water District) – $1.09 million: This funding will support the delivery of desalinated water through submerged reverse osmosis technology.
- The Crisis and Incident Response through Community-led Engagement (CIRCLE) Program – $1.06 million: This funding will help the CIRCLE unarmed response program expand to more neighborhoods in Los Angeles.
- West LA Real Time Crime Center – $1.03 million: This funding will improve the capabilities of the West Los Angeles and Pacific Divisions of the Los Angeles Police Department to stand up Real Time Crime Centers and expand their sensor network across the community to deter crime and assist in criminal apprehension.
- Orange County Flood Futures Project – $1.03 million: The Orange County Flood Futures Project will identify and evaluate modifications to flood channels, dams, and their operations that would result in increased natural supplies of sand to area beaches during storm events.
- Advanced Equipment for Lancaster Police Department – $1.02 million: This funding will cover various equipment, including two multi-terrain performance vehicles, public safety cameras, drug testing equipment, and updated dispatch consoles.
- The Village Renovation Project – $1 million: This project supports The People Concern’s Village Renovation Project to provide supportive housing for vulnerable individuals.
- Contract Ready LA – $1 million: This project provides training and certification assistance to help Los Angeles small businesses qualify for federal contracts.
- San Gabriel River Water Quality Improvement Project – $1 million: This funding will support efforts to mitigate trash migrating from the San Gabriel River watershed into the Pacific Ocean.
- Healthcare Workforce Training, Including Tuition, Fees, Equipment, and Training Materials (AltaMed Health Services Corporation) – $995,000: This funding will support the inaugural health care workforce partnership with the University of La Verne and the Annenberg School of Nursing.
- Workforce Training, Including Transportation (Los Angeles Conservation Corps) – $969,000: This funding will go toward education and training, administered by the Corpsmember Development Department.
- Los Angeles County Fire Department’s Pacoima Warehouse Renovation – $968,000: The funding will be used to purchase materials for essential renovations to the Pacoima Warehouse for the Los Angeles County Fire Department to provide lifesaving supplies and tools to over 300 fire department locations throughout Los Angeles County.
- Inside Safe Program – Acquisition and Capital Improvements – $850,000: This project supports Los Angeles’ Inside Safe program in acquiring housing and improving services.
- City of La Palma – Public Safety Center – $850,000: This project modernizes existing infrastructure used by both the La Palma Police Department and the La Palma Fire Department to improve public safety with better resources like security cameras and sensors, ensuring that law enforcement is well-equipped to address the evolving needs of the community.
- South Laguna Beach Fire Station Replacement – $850,000: This project replaces the South Laguna Fire Station, a 1940s-era facility that no longer meets modern emergency service standards.
- Sister Cedars Senior Housing – $815,000: This project supports the Los Angeles House of Ruth with its Sister Cedars Senior Housing assisted living facility in Northridge.
- Improving Firefighting Education, Including the Purchase of Equipment (Rio Hondo Community College District) – $790,000: This funding will help purchase equipment to ensure cadets are prepared to fight fires in a variety of structures.
- The Chrysalis Center’s Workforce Training (May Include Scholarships and Other Supportive Services) – $405,000: This funding will help Chrysalis expand its employment program at the San Fernando Valley Pacoima site via job readiness, case management, and supportive services to help clients reach stability and security.
- Advanced Traffic Controllers at the Future Metro L Line Norwalk and Lambert Stations Areas – $250,000: This project installs advanced traffic signal controllers near future Metro L Line stations in Norwalk and Lambert to improve traffic flow and transit coordination.
- Clean Power Alliance Power Ready Program for Critical Public Facilities Improvements – $250,000: This project provides backup power systems and electrical infrastructure upgrades for critical public facilities through the Clean Power Alliance.
- Community and Senior Center Complex Enhancement (City of Stanton) – $250,000: The project scope includes improvements and ADA enhancements to the Senior Center area restrooms, entry lobby, and hallways. Improvements include repainting and replacement of doors, lighting fixtures, flooring, counter tops, ceiling tiles, mirrors, toilets, and urinals.
- STEM Education Programming (Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers) – $236,000: This project provides monthly immersive STEM experiences in four classrooms, eight activities per year, serving up to 200 students per session directly within the school day, eliminating accessibility barriers, and fostering a sense of belonging for over 2,000 students.