March 15, 2024

County Executive David Crowley Successfully Advocates for New Federal Funding in Milwaukee County

President Biden signs federal appropriations legislation that will deploy investments in Milwaukee County for affordable housing, transit, and parks

MILWAUKEE – Last week, President Joe Biden signed into law federal appropriations legislation that includes funding for Milwaukee County that County Executive David Crowley successfully advocated for. The federal funding, awarded through the Congressionally Directed Spending request process, will support investments in affordable housing, public transit, and park improvements in Milwaukee County.

“We know that partnerships and collaboration will help Milwaukee County achieve its vision, advance racial equity, and become the healthiest community in Wisconsin,” said Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley. “Thank you to President Joe Biden, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin, U.S. Representative Gwen Moore, and our federal partners for delivering new funding to Milwaukee County that will help us build more affordable housing, reinvest in our public transit system, and enhance our parks for families to enjoy. I’m looking forward to our continued work together in the years ahead.”

The Fiscal Year 2024 appropriations legislation is supporting projects that County Executive Crowley successfully advocated for, including:

• $2,000,000 for Affordable Housing: The Milwaukee County Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) will support the development of affordable housing projects throughout Milwaukee County. Projects will be identified by the DHHS Housing Division and reviewed by the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors.
• $1,000,000 for Public Transit: Milwaukee County Transit System (MCTS) will purchase new clean diesel buses and install transit signal priority (TSP) and preemption equipment in the City of Milwaukee.
• $500,000 for Parks Improvements: Milwaukee County Parks will develop recommendations to improve declining water quality in the Veterans Park lagoon, one of the busiest areas of the Milwaukee County Parks system. Funding will also support stormwater infrastructure improvements at Washington Park to mitigate serious public health and safety concerns.

Two additional Congressionally Directed Spending requests were also approved for projects at two Milwaukee County Parks:

• $2,000,000 for the Urban Ecology Center Expansion in Washington Park: Funding would be used to undertake infrastructure upgrades at its facilities in Washington Park, including improvements to parking lots, driveway, sidewalks, lighting design and construction, signage, and an observation tower.
• $724,834 for the Re-Imagining Sherman Park: Funding would be used to support improvements to the Mary Ryan Boys and Girls Club facility (including renovations to classrooms, front lobby, HVAC, and building safety features) including a new splashpad, resurfacing basketball courts, addressing drainage issues in the park, re-activating an attractive concessions area, and upgrading the Mary Ryan Boys & Girls Club facility.

To request Congressionally Directed Spending, Milwaukee County departments identify funding needs and review project proposals within the County. Those projects are submitted to Wisconsin’s Congressional Delegation for consideration.