Many constituents are interested in federal appropriations requests, or "earmarks," and how they work. The responsible application of earmarked funds, federal resources designated for local projects of high public purpose, can have widespread benefits for our communities, our state, and our nation.
In making such requests, my office seeks to use taxpayer dollars prudently, considering cost-benefit analyses and the benefit to the community. In compliance with House Appropriations Committee rules and in order to make the process as transparent as possible, I am posting all of my funding requests on this website.
Below you will find a list of the funding requests for Fiscal Year 2010:
Alverno College Research Center for Women and Girls - $100,000
3400 S. 43rd St.
Milwaukee, WI 53234
Alverno College serves primarily first generation, low-income, and minority college students in downtown Milwaukee, preparing a new generation of students to compete in the 21st century global economy. The Research Center for Women and Girls will provide a resource to connect women in the community to economic and civic opportunities, thereby increasing participants' earning potential and improving the community.
The Benedict Center - $100,000
135 West Wells Street
Milwaukee, WI 53203
The requested funds would be used to enable the Center to reach an estimated 300 women engaged in risky behavior on the streets of Milwaukee before they become entangled in the criminal justice system. This Project will encourage at-risk women to voluntarily participate in trauma and counseling services available at the Benedict Center. The Center will draw on the resources of professional counselors and peer support mentors to provide guidance for at-risk women in need.
Esser Redevelopment Project - $350,000
City of Milwaukee
809 N. Broadway
Milwaukee, WI 53202
The second phase of the City of Milwaukee's successful Esser Redevelopment Project, which is part of the broader rehabilitation of the 30th Street Industrial Corridor, seeks to eliminate the brownfield contamination in at least two acres of land and create at least fifty new units of housing.
Five Points Exchange Redevelopment - $250,000
Riverworks Development Corporation
303 E. Vienne Avenue
Milwaukee, WI 53212
This project involves acquiring blighted properties, brownfields, and vacant lots in Milwaukee's Five Points Exchange area and redeveloping them into a mixed-use development, which will revitalize the neighborhood, encourage the growth of businesses, and bring in new tax revenues.
General Mitchell Airport Control Hangar Upgrade - $4,000,000
General Mitchell Airport
1685 E. Grange Ave.
Milwaukee, WI 53207
The current corrosion control facility operated by the 128th Air Refueling Wing is a converted nose-dock that leaves the tail of aircraft totally exposed to the elements. This requires the inspection, maintenance, and repair of all of the exterior refueling components at the mercy of the elements. This project will construct a 7,500 square foot addition to fully enclose an existing Aircraft Nose Dock facility, which will fully house and protect the aircraft.
Great Lakes WATER Institute Aquaculture Center - $600,000
Great Lakes Wisconsin Aquatic Technology and Environmental Research Institute
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Milwaukee, WI 53204
Through fundamental and applied research, the GLAC will improve and develop advanced aquaculture technology for the commercial production of Great Lakes species such as yellow perch, walleye, lake whitefish, lake trout, northern pike, etc.
The Center is performing research into how to improve survival of the early life stages of yellow perch and is developing defined yellow perch broodstocks that are being genetically selected for rapid growth.
The estimated savings to large commercial operations could be between 200 and 500 thousand dollars per year in reduced labor and food costs as a result of research and technology. Additionally, this success will attract investors, establish businesses, create jobs, produce a high-quality protein food source, and generate a sustainable local industry.
Growing a Regional Workforce Intermediary Project - $100,000
WRTP/BIG STEP
3841 W Wisconsin Avenue
Milwaukee, WI 53208
The Wisconsin Regional Training Partnership and the Building Industry Group Skilled Trades Employment Program (WRTP/BIG STEP) partnered in 2005 to connect Southeastern Wisconsin's urban population with growing economic sectors in our community. The "Growing a Regional Workforce Intermediary Project" seeks to train local residents with job skills that match the workforce needs - primarily in construction, manufacturing, and healthcare. Upon placement, participants are tracked to ensure sustained employment. Federal funding would be used to broaden the impact of workforce development services - a critical function during a time of rising unemployment in Milwaukee.
Justice 2000 - $100,000
2821 North Fourth Street
Milwaukee, WI 53212
Justice 2000 Inc is developing two community justice centers in Milwaukee. Under this program, these centers will work in collaboration with the Milwaukee District Attorney and the courts to coordinate justice services in an effort to relieve the caseload of the justice system. Instead of sending certain offenders through the court system, Justice 2000 would work with those who would be better served by treatment, further education, or by doing community service than by spending time in a correctional facility. This approach would decrease crowding at correctional facilities and could lead to greater and faster rehabilitation rates.
Kids on the Go! - $40,000
Variety - The Children's Charity of Wisconsin
Suite C120 999 N. 92nd Street
Milwaukee, WI 53227
Variety - The Children's Charity of Wisconsin, was formed in 1935 to provide life saving and life enriching assistance to children with physical and mental disabilities. Their "Kids on the Go!" program provides durable medical products like walkers, wheelchairs, and prosthetic limbs to children of low-income families who would not otherwise be able to afford these durable goods.
Large Format Li-Ion Battery - $600,000
C&D Technologies Inc
900 Keefe Avenue
Milwaukee, WI 53212
In addition to providing the U.S. Army with an advanced battery solution to meet the growing energy needs, the Large Format Li-ion battery has strong commercial applications as well. The system can be integrated into Hybrid Electric Vehicles, Plug-In Electric Vehicles, and may have a role in providing Grid Stabilization for renewable energy storage. In the long run, li-ion battery development will help make electric vehicles a reality thereby greatly reducing U.S. dependence on foreign energy sources. This program will also help create 150 new high value “green collar” U.S. manufacturing jobs.
Large-Scale Manufacturing of Revolutionary Nanostructured Materials - $2,000,000
University of Wisconin-Milwaukee
2200 E Kenwood Blvd
Milwaukee, WI 53211
The U.S. Army has established a goal of being able to move a large number of troops, anywhere, within 48 hours. This goal requires ultra light vehicles that can operate for prolonged periods with reduced need for refueling. In addition, the Army has set goals for safety, reliability, energy efficiency and cost-effectiveness of military vehicles. The transportation systems need to be made out of multifunctional, stronger, lighter, stiffer and more affordable materials. These materials will then lead to lightweight, safer, more reliable, low-maintenance, and high-performance vehicles. In response to the needs of the Army, the initial focus will be to develop manufacturing advanced materials, especially metallic, for military components. These materials components will include high-performance alloys, nanocomposites, self-lubricating, smart and self-healing metallic components. These new materials will lead to Army vehicles that will be lighter, longer lasting, high-strain rate, energy-absorbing, multifunctional, self-lubricating, smart and self healing. Such advanced materials will have applications in Army vehicles, soldier battle suits, as well as energy absorbing armor.
In Wisconsin alone, the foundry industry employs 21,000 persons in nearly 150 different foundries statewide. The large number of metal manufacturers and foundries in Wisconsin are facing difficulties due to offshore competition and could be revitalized by adopting processes that create revolutionary materials.
Latina Resource Center - $100,000
2701 S. Chase Avenue
Milwaukee, WI 53207
Milwaukee faces one of the highest teen pregnancy rates in the country. The Latina Resource Center in Milwaukee provides culturally competent structured programming to teach Latina teens pregnancy and STI prevention, as well as the fundamentals of healthy relationships free of emotional and physical abuse.
Les Aspin Center for Government - $300,000
Marquette University
1616 West Wells St
Milwaukee, WI 53233
Marquette University continues to work with the country of Liberia in an effort to foster their new and still growing democracy. This project will implement an exchange program between Liberia and Washington, DC for approximately 25 Liberian officials. Participants will have an opportunity to gain firsthand experience in accountability and good governance during a semester-long program conducted by Marquette University in our nation’s capital.
Lissy’s Place - $180,000
6200 W. Center St.
Milwaukee, WI 53210
Lissy's Place serves at-risk young women who have aged out of the foster care system. These women have, in the past, engaged in at-risk behaviors and often have criminal records that make them likely candidates to fall into the criminal justice system in the future. In order to help them reduce risky behaviors and increase their opportunities for a better life, Lissy’s Place helps them complete their education, find a job, and gives them a safe place to stay.
Marquette University Anaerobic Biotechnology - $500,000
1131 W Wisconsin Ave
Milwaukee, WI 53233
The requested funding will be used to continue research and training regarding renewable, sustainable energy production from biomass via anaerobic biotechnology. In the technology to be advanced, select micro-organisms are used in the absence of oxygen to break down carbon-containing biomass (i.e., corn, grass, paper mill waste, municipal wastewater sludge), converting the biomass to biogas-containing methane. The biogas can then be used to power electrical generators, power mechanical equipment, heat buildings, and provide energy for other processes. Benefits will include increased renewable energy production in Wisconsin and nationally and will help the area become a leader in this renewable technology, with the potential to create jobs in a growing sector.
Menomonee Valley Partners Urban Forestry Project - $300,000
301 West Wisconsin Ave Suite 400B
Milwaukee, WI 53202
Thirty years ago, heavy industry abandoned a 1200-acre site that comprises Menomonee Valley, leaving behind a massive environmentally problematic space in the heart of Milwaukee. Today, Milwaukee’s business community has joined forces with the non-profit and public sectors to restore the Valley into a place with good jobs near vibrant neighborhoods, healthy waterways and wildlife, and recreational green space.
The requested funds would be used to plant native tree seedlings, as well as early and mid growth stage trees, within the Valley. The project has been rated as one of the top 10 redevelopment efforts in the United States by the Sierra Club, and upon completion will have made great strides to restore the connectivity of the city.
Meta House - $100,000
2266 N. Prospect Ave.
Milwaukee, WI 53202
African American mothers from Milwaukee who have little or poor education, and who have serious physical or mental health problems, stand a greater risk of becoming unemployed and becoming involved with the criminal justice system. Most of the participants in this program are involved in the child welfare (65%) and criminal justice systems (88%). This program will work with mothers who have a substance abuse problem to keep them with their children and provide services to keep them out of the criminal justice system.
MicroDrive for Future HVAC Systems - $600,000
DRS Power and Control Technologies, Inc.
4265 North 30th Street
Milwaukee, WI 53216
The operating efficiency of pumps, fans and compressors used in Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems on US Navy ships can be improved significantly by adding variable speed drives (VSD) to control the flow, pressure or other process variables. Commercial systems have included VSDs for this function for over a decade – most high efficiency HVAC furnaces today contain a VSD to control the airflow. However, today’s state of the art commercial VSDs do not meet the Shock, Vibration, electromagnetic compatibility and other critical shipboard environmental requirements. In addition, conventional VSDs require significant space and are heavy. A silicon-carbide based, power-dense, high-switching frequency, network-enabled microdrive is the key technology that enables the modernization of naval HVAC systems leading to improved efficiency, increased automation, reduced operating cost and reduced space and weight. This project will create dozens of jobs and has the potential to create many more if this technology is purchased by commercial shipping and other industries.
Milwaukee Police Department Cameras - $100,000
749 W. State Street
Milwaukee, WI 53233
Police squad cars equipped with fully functioning camera and audio systems provide an invaluable service to the community and to the department. For relatively little money, these systems allow police departments to collect irrefutable video evidence, and at the same time have been shown to significantly reduce incidences of inappropriate police behavior towards individuals in custody.
The Milwaukee Police Department is in the process of installing state-of-the-art video recording systems in each of their marked patrol and prisoner conveyance vehicles. Less then half of the MPD marked patrol cars are equipped with these systems.
Milwaukee County Buses - $500,000
Milwaukee County
2711 W. Wells Street
Milwaukee, WI 53208
The County's entire bus fleet has already exceeded its twelve year life expectancy. The County has deferred the purchase of new buses since 2006 due to budgetary constraints, but is no longer able to stretch this deferment without incurring additional maintenance and service issues. These buses are a crucial part of Milwaukee's transportation system, needed to get people to and from work and home.
Milwaukee Public Schools - $200,000
5225 West Vliet Street, Room 162
Milwaukee, WI 53208
The Community Learning Centers run by Milwaukee Public Schools provide safe and
constructive enrichment activities during afterschool and summer hours for over 6000+ youth in the MPS school system.
Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District Landfill Gas Pipeline - $500,000
260 West Seeboth Street
Milwaukee, WI 53204
MMSD will construct a 17-mile pipeline from the Emerald Parkway Landfill to Jones Island, which will carry gas from the landfill to the Treatment Plant. The project is a low pressure green methane pipeline and will allow MMSD an alternative and environmentally beneficial fuel as a power source for some of its facilities. Once completed, the new energy source will allow Jones Island Reclamation Facility to be taken off the grid, thereby lowering costs that are passed on to ratepayers. Approximately 800-900 jobs will be created.
Milwaukee Health Services Expansion and Renovation -$100,000
2555 North MLK Drive
Milwaukee, WI 53212
Milwaukee Health Services is a federally qualified community health center currently expanding in order to meet the needs of the low income community in Milwaukee. Funds will be used for renovation and expansion of their current facility - significantly increasing the number of private screening and consultation rooms, as well as their oral health program.
Milwaukee Central City Satellite Project for People with Disabilities - $100,000
Independence First
540 South 1st Street
Milwaukee, WI 53204
IndependenceFirst is a nonprofit Center for Independent Living operated by and for persons with disabilities, which aims to give individuals the freedom to control their own lives and participate in their community. The Milwaukee Central City Satellite Project for People with Disabilities provides neighborhood based independent living and employment support services to people with disabilities – especially to youth and victims of violence - to help individuals maintain sustainable employment during the economic recession.
Milwaukee Housing Rehabilitation - $250,000
Dominican Center for Women
2470 West Locust Street
Milwaukee, WI 53206
The Dominican Center acquires tax-deeded homes at a nominal cost from the City, rehabilitates them, and then makes them available to owner-occupants. These homes, which may otherwise sit vacant and unused, would remain a blighted eyesore in the city and, if left undeveloped by the Dominican Center would generate no revenue and could end up being used in illicit activities.
Mitigating Traumatic Brain Injury by Controlling Inflammation - $600,000
BloodCenter of Wisconsin
8727 Watertown Plank Road
Milwaukee, WI 53226
When a traumatic injury occurs, one of the immediate human body responses is inflammation around the site of the injury. During Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) inflammatory episodes occur and can lead to nerve damage.
Upon injury, white blood cells can enter the injury sites and release inflammatory factors. Researchers at BloodCenter of Wisconsin have shown that one of the factors can stop nerves from transmitting impulses in the short term, and in the long term can lead to permanent damage to the nerve. The first goal of this project is to identify this factor. BloodCenter of Wisconsin researchers propose to identify this factor as the first step in stopping its production, or thwarting its action on the nerve. BloodCenter of Wisconsin researchers also know that there is a particular class of brain cells that can act in an anti-inflammatory manner to slow or stop the effects of white cell-caused damage to the nerves.
By preventing the nerve damage caused by inflammation, discovery in this area should have a significant impact on TBI in a combat situation.
Civilian Implications:
Reduction in inflammation and long term nerve damage will likely lessen the extent of possible disability, thereby reducing long term healthcare expenses associated with the traumatic event. There are also possible implications with this project for degenerative nerve diseases such as peripheral neuropathy, Parkinson’s Disease and Multiple Sclerosis that have an inflammatory component.
The Public Health Impact Institute - $300,000
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
2200 E Kenwood Blvd
Milwaukee, WI 53211
The UW–Milwaukee proposed School of Public Health will conduct rigorous public health research and scholarship, educate the current and future public health workforce, and influence the development of strategies and policies that promote health among diverse populations.
The Public Health Impact Institute, a collaborative effort between the UWM School of Public Health, the City of Milwaukee Health Department, and other community partners will amass and focus public health assets and efforts that combine knowledge, practice and commitment in order to improve health outcomes of residents in Milwaukee and in Wisconsin.
Rufus King Neighborhood Rehabs - $150,000
Housing Resources Inc.
8532 W. Capitol Drive
Milwaukee, WI 53222
This project will match federal funds with private sector dollars to renovate owner-occupied homes in order to revitalize Milwaukee's Rufus King neighborhood. By providing assistance to these low- and moderate- income homeowners, this project will improve an entire neighborhood, keep residents in their homes while making them more energy efficient, and increase homeownership and social investment in the neighborhood.
Running Rebels -$100,000
1300A W. Fond du Lac Ave.
Milwaukee, WI 53205
Youth need a safe place to do their homework, relax, and play sports after school. Running Rebels provides such a place to Milwaukee youth and targets their programs to kids at risk of joining a gang, delinquency, drug abuse, truancy, and teen pregnancy.
Spark Early Literacy - $100,000
Boys & Girls Clubs of Milwaukee
Milwaukee, WI 53212
Research has shown that children who become good readers in early grades are more likely to become better learners throughout their school years and beyond. . However, currently fewer than half of all third graders enrolled in the Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) were proficient in reading based on results from the 2004 Wisconsin Reading Comprehension Test. The goal of the SPARK Program is to have at least 75% of all SPARK participants reading proficiently by the end of 3rd grade.
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Advanced Nanomaterials for High-Efficiency Solar Cells - $500,000
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
EMS Building, Room 520
Milwaukee, WI 53211
In this project, cutting-edge research will be conducted in the areas of high-efficiency solar cells through the creation of advanced engineered nanomaterials. The requested funding will be used to catalyze the development of several cutting-edge technologies recently invented (pending U.S. patents) at UW-M. The transfer of the resulting technologies to regional industries (such as Eaton, Johnson Controls, Rockwell, and We Energies) will create new economic development opportunities for Southeastern Wisconsin in high-tech renewable energy. The successful funding of the project will contribute to revitalizing Wisconsin energy industries and consolidate U.S. competitiveness in a sector that shows growth potential in the years to come.
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Freshwater Business Accelerator - $300,000
2200 E Kenwood Blvd
Milwaukee, WI 53211
Milwaukee has the potential to become a world leader in aquaculture and freshwater technologies. In southeast Wisconsin there are 120 companies constituting a water industries cluster. The water industries companies, together with universities, have great potential to spin off new high technology, water-related companies with research, development and manufacturing. The business accelerator UW-M is developing will lead to the generation of new products and processes that will position Milwaukee regional companies as worldwide market leaders in several water-related fields.
National Project Requests:
Reading Is Fundamental - $28,000,000
1825 Connecticut Ave. NW
Washington DC 200009
RIF enhances child literacy by providing millions of underserved children with free books for personal ownership and reading encouragement from the more than 18,000 locations throughout all fifty states, Washington, D.C., Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Reach out and Read - $10,000,000
56 Roland Street
Boston, MA 02129
Reach Out and Read is a national program that promotes literacy and language development in young children, targeting language development in infants and children. Through fifteen years of peer-reviewed and published research, an extensive body of documentation now clearly demonstrates the importance of promoting early language and literacy skills so that children have the essential reading skills to begin school successfully. Yet today, a large number of children do not receive the necessary support and assistance to develop these skills and begin kindergarten ready to learn.
To close this gap, the federal government provides funding for a variety of literacy programs and strategies that reach children and parents and the professionals who interact with them. ROR has proven to be among the most effective strategies to promote early language and literacy development and school readiness: pediatricians and other healthcare providers guide and encourage parents to read aloud to their children from their earliest years of their life, and send them home from each doctor visit with books and a prescription to read together.
Currently, nearly 50,000 doctors and nurses have been trained in ROR’s proven strategies, and more than 3,500 clinics and hospitals nationwide are implementing the program, reaching more than 25% of America’s at-risk-children. Funding provided by Congress through the U.S. Department of Education has been matched by tens of millions of dollars from the private sector and state governments.
Teach for America - $25,000,000
315 West 36th Street
New York, NY 10018
Teach for America is an authorized federal program under P.L. 110-315. The purpose of the funding is to go towards the recruitment, selection, placement and professional development of an estimated 8200 first- and second-year teachers in 39 low-income regions across the nation. These teachers will reach an estimated 525,000 underserved students. The $25 million in federal funds will leverage roughly $160 million in corporate, foundation and individual dollars and will make up an estimated 13 percent of Teach For America's anticipated 2010 operating revenue of $190 million.
This is a valuable investment of federal funds as this national corps of outstanding college graduates and young professionals of all academic majors, career interests and backgrounds commit at least two years to teach in urban and rural public schools in our nation's lowest-income communities and become lifelong leaders for expanding educational opportunity. Teach For America is a non-profit with a mission of enlisting our nation's most promising future leaders in the movement to eliminate educational inequality. This is accomplished by building a diverse, highly selective national teacher corps, ensuring that corps members are highly effective classroom teachers in the highest-need classrooms across the country, and supporting the corps members beyond their two-year commitment to ensure their lifelong engagement.
Requests for Inclusion in the Surface Transportation Reauthorization Bill:
These requests will help create jobs, promote the use of transit, biking, and walking as alternatives to the use of the personal vehicle, and make important roadway and safety improvements along a number of roadways in our area.
Milwaukee County Transit System—Bus Rapid Transit Project—$28 million
This project would construct and operate a 12-mile long bus rapid transit line (Fondy-National BRT) in the city of Milwaukee. The project would provide faster, more user- friendly service in a corridor where there is high demand for transit, help improve mobility, and enhance the community and local economy.
City of Milwaukee— Milwaukee Street Car System project—$87.5 million
This project would implement Phase 2 of the Milwaukee Street Car System to expand the system from Brady Street to the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. The project will support the development of a Streetcar system that is flexible, affordable, and reliable and have a positive impact on Milwaukee’s economy and environment. The City of Milwaukee estimates that Phase 2 will generate 1,077 jobs and that the overall project will produce an estimated $40 million annual impact on the local economy.
City of West Allis, WI—Resurfacing of West National Avenue—$400,000
The project will restructure a portion of West National Avenue to improve travel near a new housing and economic development project and extend bike lanes to complement the West Allis Crosstown Connector Bike Trail.
Milwaukee County Transit System—Replacement of Transit Buses—$36.5 million
The project would pay for the purchase of new buses to replace buses in the current fleet that are over 12 years old, the Federal Transit Administration’s standard for the useful life of a bus.
Reconstruct West Mill Road ( North 43th Street to North Teutonia Avenue)— $3.4 million
The project will upgrade the road segment to make safety improvements and to accommodate projected traffic volumes for the next 20 years.
Rehabilitation of 3 Historic Pedestrian Bridges in Lake Park—$3.2 million
The project would attempt to restore three important pedestrian bridges—all of which are over 100 years old— in order to preserve them, maintain their functional contribution to the transportation corridor, and ensure public safety.
Rehabilitation of West Silver Spring Drive (North 90th Street to North 69th Street)—$2.7 million
This project would rehabilitate the existing roadway surface, including median modifications, curb and gutter replacement, traffic signal upgrades, street lighting and other traffic safety design features to improve an important arterial for commuters and local residents.
Replace the bridge deck on the East Mason Street Bridge at the War Memorial in the City of Milwaukee—$4 million
This project would upgrade the bridge deck to repair the deteriorating deck and expansion joints and improve safety for both pedestrians and drivers.
Kenosha-Racine-Milwaukee Commuter Rail project—$115 million.
This project would fund construction of a 33-mile rail system to connect 9 Wisconsin towns to Chicago and 22 other Illinois communities— to reduce automobile use and highway traffic while improving transportation options for residents in Chicago and Milwaukee and in the communities in between. It is estimated that the project will create over 4,000 construction jobs.
Requests for Inclusion in the Water Resources Development Act:
These project requests would help create jobs, protect Lake Michigan and our area beaches, and improve the quality of area waterways.
Feasibility Study to consider key issues associated with relocating South Shore Beach including environmental impacts on water quality and sediment transport – $50,000
Shoreline Protection: Implement shoreline erosion prevention measures along 25,000 feet of Lakes Michigan shoreline in the city of Cudahy – $20,780,000
Implement a Milwaukee Watersheds Green Infrastructure Program to test innovative and cost effective ways to protect local water resources, including Lake Michigan – $200,000,000
Repair deteriorating seawalls associated with the McKinley Marina Flushing Tunnel channel – $4,500,000
