Congressman Dan Goldman Presents $3 Million Grant Award to Fifth Avenue Committee

Goldman Secured $9,036,948 for Projects in NY-10 in FY 2024 Appropriations

Funding Will Be Used to Modernize Community Center to Expand Access to Critical Support Services

Photos and Video from the Award Presentation Here

Brooklyn, NY – Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10) today presented the Fifth Avenue Committee with a $3,000,000 Community Project Funding Grant Award, which was included in the final passage of HR 4366, ‘The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2024.’ Goldman secured $9,036,948 for community projects in NY-10 in the FY 2024 appropriations process.

The award will be used to update the Fifth Avenue Committee (FAC) Center for Community Development. Updates include modernization of the elevator, accessibility and energy updates and services offered, ranging from eviction prevention, adult education, community organizing and benefits access to workforce development and community development.

"The work the Fifth Avenue Committee does to serve members of our community that are too-often left behind is vital to ensuring that we support all New Yorkers – and I'm proud to present them with $3,000,000 to continue that critical work," Congressman Dan Goldman said. "The modernization of the Community Development Center in Gowanus will unlock more opportunities for the thousands of community members who rely on FAC’s services to pursue their American Dream. I look forward to working alongside them to continue supporting their workforce development and adult education programs."

Michelle de la Uz, Executive Director of Fifth Avenue Committee said, "Fifth Avenue Committee is deeply grateful to Congressman Goldman for securing this critical support to make much needed renovations and improvements to the FAC Center, which in turn enables FAC and our affiliates to better support the people and communities we serve through our highly impactful, award winning comprehensive community development programs. Importantly, the funding will enable us to expand our adult education classrooms and digital literacy instruction, update the facilities to improve both in-person and remote services, and make needed accessibility and energy efficiency upgrades. Grant funding for capital improvements for nonprofit community facilities is hard to come by yet much needed and ensures our ability to serve people effectively."

Fifth Avenue Committee (FAC) currently provides services to over 6,000 low- and moderate-income New Yorkers each year directly and through its affiliates, all of whose main office is at the FAC Center for Community Development.  Services range from adult education, benefits access, financial coaching, tenant eviction prevention, organizing and advocacy to workforce development, first-time homebuyer and foreclosure counseling, and affordable housing development and management as part of its comprehensive community development mission advancing economic, social and racial justice.

One critical program that the Fifth Avenue Committee provides is the Adult Education Program, offering classes in English for Speakers of Other Languages, high school equivalency, adult basic education, workforce bridge programs, and digital literacy to nearly 1,000 foreign born and native New Yorkers annually. The renovations will enable FAC to relocate these classes to the FAC Center, which is more accessible by public transit.

Fifth Avenue Committee’s community service mission is at the core of the FAC Center’s upgrades. On the second floor of 182 4th Avenue, the space will be outfitted with a brand-new computer lab space and two large classrooms for teaching. These new spaces will allow for the community center to expand their adult education services.

The elevator modernization will also ensure that the entire building remains accessible to all community members.

FAC is committed to helping community members lead stable lives where they and their families can thrive and ensuring that NYC is inclusive, sustainable and just. In many communities that FAC serves, unemployment or underemployment remains a challenge, and income is low, with more than 28 percent of residents living below the poverty line. Nearly half of residents (48 percent) are limited English proficient, compared to 23 percent citywide. Half are either rent burdened or severely rent burdened, paying over 30 percent and sometimes more than 50 percent of their income on housing and are faced with the risk of displacement.

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