KNABE TO FUND $7.5 MILLION IN SAN PEDRO PROJECTS

 

 

NEWS FROM DON KNABE

Supervisor, Fourth District

County of Los Angeles

822 Hahn Hall of Administration

 

 

 

        FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                           Contact:         David A. Sommers

                                                                                                                                        (213) 974-1095

                                                                                                                                        (213) 453-6446 (cell)

 

 

 

KNABE TO FUND $7.5 MILLION IN SAN PEDRO PROJECTS

 

LOS ANGELES, October 6, 2009 – Supervisor Don Knabe announced today that he will be funding nearly $7.5 million towards two projects in San Pedro. These projects are part of a larger investment of nearly $13 million that Knabe will be announcing for five separate projects in the South Bay over the next three weeks.

 

With a groundbreaking scheduled for Wednesday, October 7, Knabe will be using $2.48 million in Fourth District Capital Improvement funds to complete an extreme makeover of the San Pedro Service Center. The Center, which opened its doors in 1972, has continued to expand its services over the years, while receiving hardly any upgrades.  With Supervisor Knabe fully funding the expansion and renovation, the San Pedro Service Center will now be compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The renovation of existing restrooms includes the installation of additional stalls and other upgrades. The reconfiguration of the existing senior citizens room includes the installation of a kitchenette, storage area, and two additional single-unit restrooms. The addition to the northeast side of the building will include an 800-square-foot multipurpose room. A 1,350-square-foot addition to the southeast side of the building will provide two daycare classrooms with toilets, storage areas, and a corridor.

 

Meanwhile, on Friday, October 9, Supervisor Knabe will formally announce a contribution of $4.969 million to San Pedro’s Harbor Interfaith Services to be used for the construction of a new three story building dedicated to serving approximately 13,000 homeless and working poor people. The new building will include a food pantry, office space for case workers, indoor playground, nursery, after school program space, and other specialized facilities for homeless children. This financial commitment represents roughly half of the $10 million Harbor Interfaith will need to raise to complete construction of the new building. A fundraising campaign will be launched at the Organization’s annual gala this Friday night.

 

Funding for both of the San Pedro projects received the unanimous support of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors.

 

“There is tremendous need across the County for programs and facilities that are helping children, families, and seniors,” said Supervisor Knabe. “Programs like the Service Center and Harbor Interfaith are helping meet that need in San Pedro, so I am honored to commit funding that will be used to help expand these programs and ultimately expand how we help those members of our community who are most in need.”

 

Supervisor Knabe’s commitment of $7.449 million in capital project funds for the San Pedro Service Center and the Harbor Interfaith facility is part of a series of projects the Supervisor will be funding across the Fourth District this year, totaling nearly $45 million in construction projects that will lead to hundreds of jobs and many new community facilities for recreation, social services, and public safety. All told, the South Bay will benefit from $12.92 million in projects paid for from the Fourth District Capital Improvement funds. The additional projects will be built in Torrance, El Segundo, and Rancho Palos Verdes. Supervisor Knabe will announce all the projects and the funding levels during his annual State of the County address at the Long Beach Convention Center on November 4, 2009. Details about the event can be found at http://www.stateofthecounty.gov.

 

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