Congressman Kean Secures $6.3 Million for NJ-07 Projects in House Funding Bills

(January 23, 2026) WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Tom Kean, Jr. (NJ-07) announced that he secured $6.3 million in federal funding for communities throughout New Jersey’s Seventh Congressional District. In the government funding bills that cleared the House yesterday (H.R.7148 and H.R.7147), six more of Kean's FY2026 Community Project requests were included. These bills deliver $6,334,000 in federal taxpayer dollars directly back to the Seventh District to support critical local projects. The legislation now heads to the Senate for consideration.

“This week, I successfully moved New Jersey’s priorities forward through the House. We are delivering vital resources for projects at home that will strengthen public safety, expand accessibility, invest in senior services and workforce training, and much more,” said Congressman Tom Kean, Jr. “Once signed into law, this funding will deliver significant benefits to individuals and families in New Jersey. All 15 of my Community Projects have now passed the House, and I remain fully committed to getting each of these priorities across the finish line.”

Congressman Kean's FY2026 Community Projects included in latest Appropriations bills: 

Mountainside Borough: $365,000 for Emergency Operations Center

• The Borough of Mountainside plans to convert the second floor of the former Department of Public Works garage into an Emergency Operations Center. Dormers will be constructed on the second floor, and the entire space will require insulation, sheetrock, and electrical wiring. The bathroom on the first floor will be renovated to make it handicap accessible, and new furniture, a phone system, television, and other necessary electronics will be purchased.

Warren County Community College: $979,000 for Agricultural Educational and Training Center Improvements

• The Agricultural Educational and Training Center project will improve existing facilities on a 22-acre parcel in Oxford owned by Warren County for the creation of the training center. While rural and suitable for small farms, Warren County is close to large population centers, providing a significant agricultural consumer base. Warren County Community College is working with the Northwest New Jersey Food Processing and Innovation (FPIC), a non-profit organization in Oxford, on a plan to create a food processing center on the 22-acre parcel. The Warren County Community College Agricultural Educational and Training Center would serve as a location for training students from community colleges, vocational agriculture schools, and culinary institutes. This initiative would provide workforce development opportunities, improve access to fresh food, reduce processing capacity limitations for farmers, and provide food options currently unavailable locally.

• The Township of Washington will replace, repair, and renovate certain features of the Washington Township Police Department Building, constructed in 1996. The renovations will address issues related to the roof, HVAC system, and parking lot. Due to the age and deterioration of these building components, replacement and renovation are required. Employees and residents utilize the building for all aspects of public safety, including education, licensing, and Office of Emergency Management services.

City of Summit: $530,000 for Glenside Avenue Sidewalk Improvements

• The Glenside Avenue Drainage Project will make critical upgrades to Glenside Avenue, including the installation of new ADA-compliant sidewalks from Stiles Road to Baltusrol Road. Within the City’s Sidewalk Installation & Maintenance Plan, it is recommended that sidewalks be installed along the southside of Glenside Avenue. Given Glenside Avenue’s access to Interstate 78 and its importance within the city, it experiences higher traffic volumes than other routes. This project will create a safe, ADA-compliant pedestrian pathway, allowing individuals of all abilities, particularly those with disabilities, to utilize this route. Funds allocated for this initiative will facilitate drainage improvements and the installation of new sidewalks in a key corridor along Glenside Avenue.

• The Town of Phillipsburg will revitalize the existing Delaware River Park located along Howard Street. The park was previously used for football, baseball/softball, and dog park areas. The site is located on a former municipal & railroad landfill, and field usage was discontinued due to concerns that debris from the landfill was migrating to the surface. The Town proposes to revitalize the park by constructing a new landfill cap to prevent debris migration, enabling the park to serve as a recreational destination once again. The project will also provide access to the bi-state Rails-to-Trails network and the historic Morris Canal. Funding would allow recreation fields to be safely reopened and would serve the youth of the community. As result of the revitalized project, the park has the potential to attract visitors and support small business development, such as shops and eateries. Improvements to this portion of the trail and park network would strengthen connectivity by creating additional destinations.

• This funding will assist Hunterdon County in expanding its existing senior center, which serves the entire county and houses numerous programs benefitting low- and moderate-income senior citizens. Some examples include Meals on Wheels, senior nutrition and wellness programming, active and passive recreation, computer skills training, collaborative health screenings with the Hunterdon County Health Department, and access to programs such as LIHEAP and senior farmers market vouchers. The expansion project includes renovation of the lower floor of an adjacent county-owned building to create a new flexible space that can accommodate senior exercise classes and programming, as well as the acquisition of programmatic equipment. In addition, the expanded building will require ADA improvements, including installation of an elevator, as the current building only has staircases and a ramp system between the first and second floors.

Background: 

As part of the FY2026 Community Project Funding (CPF) process, Congressman Kean advocated for local priorities identified by community leaders and local officials. In May 2025, he submitted 15 CPF requests to the House Appropriations Committee for consideration in the FY2026 appropriations bills.
 

All 15 of the projects Congressman Kean was allotted have now passed the House. Earlier this month, Kean announced that he delivered $3.8 million for critical projects in Bernards Township, Greenwich Township, Warren Township, Mount Arlington Borough, Sparta Township, and Hopatcong Borough. In November, Kean also secured $3.7 million to support local police departments in Byram, Readington, and Holland Townships.

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