Senator Gillibrand Celebrates Big Community Funding Wins On Long Island

Senator Gillibrand Celebrates Big Community Funding Wins On Long Island

Jun 5, 2026

Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, celebrated the more than $23 million in federal funding for critical community projects across Long Island included in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 funding packages signed into law earlier this year.

The funding includes $3 million for the expansion and renovation of the YMCA's community center in Patchogue; $750,000 for a Construction Training Academy at the United Way of Long Island, and $400,000 for the renovation of a community hub at the Viscardi Center. Senator Gillibrand personally secured funding for these projects as congressionally directed spending items.

"These federal dollars will power real growth across Long Island," said Senator Gillibrand. "From financing critical workforce development programs at United Way of Long Island to supporting the expansion of the YMCA in Patchogue, this money will make a real difference for New Yorkers. I'm proud to have fought to secure these funds, and I'll keep working to bring more federal dollars home to support growth on Long Island."

"We are deeply humbled and grateful to stand with Senator Gillibrand in transforming lives in Patchogue and surrounding communities. The Senator's generous congressional grant of $3 million is not just an investment-it is a gesture of faith in our mission and the people we serve. Because of this support, countless children, seniors, families, and neighbors will find belonging, support, and opportunities they might not have had otherwise. With this gift, we can expand essential childcare and health and wellness programs, and continue making the YMCA a welcoming, community hub for everyone. Thank you, Senator, for your partnership with the YMCA of Long Island and for helping to shape a brighter future for all," said the YMCA of Long Island.

"United Way of Long Island is grateful to Senator Kirsten Gillibrand for her leadership and support of this transformative investment. The Construction Training Academy will create new opportunities for YouthBuild students, veterans, and other workforce training participants by providing in-demand skills, industry-recognized credentials, and a pathway to long-term self-sufficiency. This investment will not only change individual lives-it will strengthen our workforce, our economy, and our communities for generations,"said Theresa Regnante, President & CEO, United Way of Long Island.

"Thanks to Senator Gillibrand's leadership, The Viscardi Center is able to create a Community Programming Hub, where people with cognitive and developmental disabilities are empowered to build the independent living skills necessary to live civically engaged lives, fully included in our communities. And while being empowered by the Hub's programming, their families receive the respite needed to ensure that they are rested, refreshed, and poised to support their loved ones as they strive for inclusion and independence," said Dr. Chris Rosa, President & CEO, the Viscardi Center.

A breakdown of the projects highlighted at today's event is below:

$3 million for Renovation of the YMCA of Long Island's Patchogue Facility:

This funding will facilitate the expansion, reimaging, and renovation of the YMCA's Patchogue branch, maximizing square footage to incorporate a social wellness space for older adults, community education space for chronic disease prevention, and additional child care classrooms.

$750,000 for United Way of Long Island's Construction Training Academy:

Since 2010, more than 1,000 graduates of United Way Long Island have gained hands-on construction skills while rehabilitating homes for previously unhoused families and veterans in their community. This funding will support a new Construction Training Academy developed in collaboration with Opportunities Long Island, the Building and Construction Trades Council of Nassau & Suffolk Counties, local unions, and employers to serve as a pipeline to high-quality careers in the construction and utility industries. This partnership ensures that students receive industry-aligned training and direct pathways to apprenticeships and employment with unionized contractors and other employers.

$400,000 for the Viscardi Center for Creation of a Community Program Hub:

The Viscardi Center is a leading nonprofit organization providing education and support services to individuals with disabilities on Long Island. This award will be used to renovate an existing house to serve as a Community Program Hub - an independent teaching lab to prepare students with intellectual and developmental disabilities to be more self-sufficient, live independently, and become work ready.

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