Kelly presents Wilmington Area School District with $55,000 in Community Project Funding

NEW WILMINGTON, PA -- On Monday, October 17, U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly (R-PA) presented the Wilmington Area School District with $55,000 in Community Project Funding for the district's computer and robotics curriculum. This money would allow the district to implement a computer science curriculum for grades 5, 6 and middle school students. 

The money was included in the fiscal year 2022 budget and was among $8.5 million in Community Project Funding Kelly secured for the 16th Congressional District. During the stop, Kelly participated in a robotics demonstration with students and met with Wilmington faculty and administrators. 

"When we invest in our children, we invest in our future," Kelly said. "I want to thank everyone involved at the Wilmington Area School District for coming to us with this request and allowing us to help students with this critical computer science program. I enjoyed meeting with the kids and seeing firsthand just how this money will improve their education. I look forward to seeing this curriculum grow and serve future generations of students."

BACKGROUND

Congressional leaders resumed Community Project Funding (CPF), formerly known as 'earmarks', for the 117th Congress. With increased transparency and stricter guidelines, lawmakers were permitted to submit specific funding requests during the budget process. Rep. Kelly fielded input from local leaders throughout Northwestern Pennsylvania before selecting these projects. Of the ten (10) requests Rep. Kelly was allotted, eight (8) were selected in fiscal year 2022. Rep. Kelly's FY2023 projects totaled nearly $25 million.

Details on CPF rules and guidelines can be found here.

This funding comes after Rep. Kelly delivered two BUILD Grants in 2020 for the 16th Congressional District, including $25 million for improvements along State Route 228 in Butler County, and $21 million for the City of Erie's Bayfront Parkway Project.