U.S. House Passes Spanberger Legislation to Provide $775,000 for Affordable Housing Project in Louisa County

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. House of Representatives today voted to pass U.S. Representative Abigail Spanberger’s legislation that would provide $775,000 for a new affordable housing project in Louisa County.

The funding for Louisa County — which Spanberger successfully secured as part of a House-passed fiscal year (FY) 2022 appropriations package — would create a new 80-unit development where market-rate homes and affordable residences can be located together. The goal of the Ferncliff Place project will be to provide ownership for 25 individuals or families who are between 25 percent to 60 percent of Area Median Income for Louisa County.

“As we rebuild from the COVID-19 pandemic, Central Virginians deserve to have greater access to affordable housing opportunities. This project in Louisa County would provide the dream of home ownership to more Louisa County residents and make this community a stronger place to live, work, and raise a family,” said Spanberger. “I am proud to have worked directly with Louisa County in securing this funding, and I thank these elected officials for their leadership, their vision, and their commitment to the people of Louisa. I am encouraged that these hundreds of thousands of dollars were passed today in the U.S. House, and I will keep working to move this funding forward and eventually to the President’s desk to be signed into law.”

“The County is grateful for the potential award of funding for this project,” said Bob Babyok, Chairman, Louisa County Board of Supervisors.  “Access to affordable housing is a significant concern in Louisa, and with responsible planning this project will create safe and sustainable options to meet that challenge.”

According to community officials, the Ferncliff Place project would provide the opportunity of home ownership — not just affordable rental assistance — to more individuals and families in the area. The federal funds passed in the U.S. House would directly support the hardworking individuals and families for whom the equity and stability of home ownership is just out of reach.

The FY2022 appropriations package now goes to the U.S. Senate for further consideration.

BACKGROUND

This year, the U.S. House of Representatives implemented a new effort as part of its annual appropriations process, which allowed for specific Community Project Funding requests — like the Ferncliff Place project. Spanberger worked directly with community leaders in all ten counties of the Seventh District to gather community-focused requests for her submissions. Click here for a full list of her submissions.

The Community Project Funding process was created to ensure that Members of Congress, in concert with the communities they represent, may submit direct applications for federal funding to support locally planned projects as part of the yearly appropriations process. To be eligible, projects must be sponsored by local or state government entities or non-profit organizations and must be projects that would otherwise meet the qualifications to apply for federal grant funding. The purpose of Community Project Funding is to ensure direct, local engagement as part of the federal appropriations process. In line with this goal, funding applications must demonstrate significant local support for the projects. 

Spanberger has consistently worked to secure funding for Central Virginia projects that would create new jobs, make infrastructure improvements, and strengthen the local economy. Recently, she joined a bipartisan majority of the U.S. House in voting to pass the INVEST in America Act, which includes more than $22.7 million in federal resources for Central Virginia transportation and infrastructure projects that Spanberger successfully secured in the legislation.

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