Will the ambitious Filipino community center in NYC finally happen with historic $1.6 M federal grant?
The National Federation of Filipino American Associations New York Chapter (NaFFAA NY) has been awarded over $1.6 million in Federal Community Project Funding to be used to invest in a multicultural, multipurpose community center in Woodside, Queens.
The funding, which had the “unwavering support” of Representative Grace Meng (D-Queens), was included in the fiscal appropriations passed by Congress and signed into law by President Biden this past weekend.
The proposed community center is intended to offer a variety of educational, cultural and social services and opportunities that are currently scattered across various organizations.
“We extend our sincerest gratitude to Representative Grace Meng for her commitment to the district, and empowering and enriching its residents in need,” said Rachelle Ocampo, president of NaFFAA NY. “This funding will enable us to expand our collective reach and impact, providing a dedicated space for our community to come together, celebrate our Filipino heritage, and access valuable resources.”
The groundbreaking investment is the largest federal grant awarded to a Filipino-led and serving organization in New York State.
“I am proud to secure these crucial funds and make this huge federal investment possible for the Filipino American community in Queens-New York City. The money is vital to helping this historic project move forward and I’m thrilled to help NaFFAA acquire this much needed facility. It is an honor to be the voice in Congress for many Filipino Americans in Queens and I will continue fighting on their behalf,” Meng said in a statement.
“This historic $1.6 million investment for a multicultural community center in Assembly District 30 addresses the increasing need of a venue for smaller community-based organizations to convene, collaborate, and provide culturally competent services to all,” said Assemblymember Steven Raga representing the 30th Assembly District of New York.
“This generous allocation of over $1.6 million to NaFFAA represents not just an investment in bricks and mortar, but in the very fabric of our Filipino American community,” said Mariela Fletcher, national president of NaFFAA National.
“The grant shines a spotlight on the significant presence and ongoing growth of the Filipino community in New York, which represents the third-largest Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) population in the state,” said Brendan Flores, national chairman of NaFFAA National.
Consul General Senen Mangalile said the “Philippine Consulate General shares in the excitement of NaFFAA about the forthcoming establishment of the community center in Woodside. We stand ready to collaborate with the center by providing the cultural and educational resources at our disposal to support its projects.”
NaFFAA NY President Ocampo said her organization has not yet identified a location for the center and is asking the community for any leads.
“We are still waiting to hear back from the federal agency to find out when we will actually receive the funds, when the funds have to be used by, and all other details of what our deliverables are,” she said when interviewed by The FilAm.
She said further, “Worst case scenario is we need to front the money and then they reimburse us later.”
The funding is specifically for capital expenses (building, etc.), she said. “Hopefully we can fundraise enough to get us started and have enough support to continue.”
As for making sure the money is managed wisely with no hint of shady operations and corruption clouding its future, Ocampo said, “We will definitely be looking at other organizations who have done this before and learn from their best practices and lessons learned. We are also connecting with other Filipino community centers across the U.S. for some guidance.”
She said she is looking to have at least one full-time staff to oversee the center.
