City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: MAY 7, 2026
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
FROM: JAMES F. PARAJON, CITY MANAGER
DOCKET TITLE:
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Consideration of a Resolution Identifying City of Alexandria Priorities for Federal Funding Opportunities and Requesting Congressional Delegation Support.
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ISSUE: Consideration of a Resolution Identifying City of Alexandria Priorities for Federal Funding Opportunities and Requesting Congressional Delegation Support
RECOMMENDATION: That City Council endorse the Resolution Identifying City of Alexandria Priorities for Federal Funding Opportunities and Requesting Congressional Delegation Support for these local priorities and funding proposals
BACKGROUND: In early 2021, the Senate and House Appropriations Committees announced the return of member requested funding, often colloquially referred to as “earmarks.” In the House, these funding opportunities are referred to as “Community Project Funding.” In the Senate, they are referred to as “Congressionally Directed Spending.”
Community Project Funding/Congressionally Directed Spending provides members of Congress the opportunity to direct funding to priority projects in their districts/states and provide targeted assistance to their communities. These funding opportunities are intended to allow Members of Congress, who well understand the needs of their districts and states, to target funds for important projects that can solve policy problems, create jobs, invest in both people and infrastructure, and work to address the ongoing needs of families, businesses, neighborhoods and communities across our country.
In announcing this next round of Community Project Funding/Congressionally Directed Spending requests, the House and Senate Appropriations Committees have, again, established a set of rules and guidelines that prioritize accountability, transparency, and strong community support. The goals of these rules and guidelines are to produce a small number of projects with strong community support and a transparent process where no member, or their family, can benefit and where projects are audited to ensure money was spent as proposed and planned.
The funding opportunities through the Community Project Funding/Congressionally Directed Spending process are limited by the House and Senate Appropriations Chairs to certain agencies and accounts. Therefore, not all City projects and priorities are appropriate for these funding opportunities.
The City has worked closely with our Congressional delegation to identify, support, and secure funding for several priority projects across the City, addressing needs in several key areas, including projects that address Council Priorities.
In 2022, the City of Alexandria received Community Project Funding requested by Congressman Donald S. Beyer, Jr. and funded in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2022 for the piloting of body worn cameras in the Alexandria Police Department ($600,000) and storm sewer improvements to mitigate recurrent flooding at Clifford Ave., Fulton St. and Manning St. ($420,000), totaling $1,020,000 in funding for these projects.
In Fiscal Year (FY) 2023, the City received Community Project Funding, requested by Congressman Beyer and funded by the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023, for the Alexandria City AHDC Arlandria Housing+ Project ($1,500,000), the full deployment of body worn cameras in the Alexandria Police Department ($1,000,000), and the acceleration of the Notabene Drive, Four Mile Rd., and Old Dominion Blvd. flood mitigation project in Arlandria ($750,000).
In FY 2024, the City received Community Project Funding for on-route electric transit bus opportunity chargers ($1,000,000), the restoration of affordable housing at the 1022 Pendleton Street Boarding House ($850,000), to pilot crime and violence intervention and prevention programs in the city ($670,000), and to establish a “Smart Mobility Lab” in partnership with Virginia Tech ($963,000).
Congress did not include earmarks in the bill used to fund federal operations throughout much of FY 2025. The continuing resolution used to fund the government kept federal discretionary spending at FY 2024 levels and omitted $15.9 billion in earmarks for FY 2025. Instead, FY 2025 earmark requests were rolled over to Fiscal Year 2026. In that year, the City received funding for affordable housing preservation in Arlandria ($500,000), flash flooding “spot improvements” ($1,092,000,000), energy back-up for emergency shelter facilities ($1,031,000), radio system replacement to allow for interoperability of emergency communications ($650,000), and technology to support violence intervention and crime prevention ($670,000).
DISCUSSION:
For the FY 2027 round of Community Project Funding/Congressionally Directed Spending, the City identified the following projects appropriate for funding, which have been submitted to Congressman Beyer, Senator Warner and Senator Kaine for their consideration:
• Transforming Housing for Alexandria’s Workforce in Arlandria ($1,900,000)
• Fireboat Replacement ($1,550,000)
• Modernization Of Alexandria’s 9-1-1 ($1,200,000)
• Upgrade to Computer-Aided Dispatch Systems ($1,200,000)
• Strengthening Workforce and Independence Initiative for Fathers ($1,200,000)
• King and Commonwealth Streetscape Improvement Project ($1,350,000)
• Flash flooding “spot improvement” project at Key & Quaker ($1,600,000)
• Accessibility upgrades at Freedom House Museum ($2,000,000)
These projects are clear priorities for the City and address significant recognized needs in the City of Alexandria in the areas of human services, community development, public safety, and infrastructure. They represent opportunities for the City to leverage Federal funding to either expand a currently successful program or accelerate a critical, priority project.
This Resolution is intended to express the support of Council for the City’s Community Project Funding/Congressionally Directed Spending requests for FY 2027. In addition, it requests support from Alexandria’s Congressional delegation for these funding proposals and requests.
STAFF:
Alethea Predeoux, Deputy City Manager
Wendy Ginsberg, Legislative Director
Dana Wedeles, Strategic Initiatives Officer, Office of Analytics, Innovation, and Data
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment #1: City Council Resolution FY2027 Earmarks
Attachment #2: Federal Appropriations Priorities