{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://bell.house.gov/media/press-releases/bell-delivers-over-123-million-critical-projects-across-st-louis-region", "Bell Delivers Over $12.3 Million for Critical Projects Across the St. Louis Region", "2026-02-17", "2026", "2026-02", "Democrat", "House", "MO", "Wesley Bell", "B001324", "bell.house.gov", "bell", "https://bell.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.\u2014Today, Representative Wesley Bell (D-Mo.) announced $12,386,000 in Community Project Funding awards for critical projects across Missouri\u2019s First Congressional District in FY2026. These investments will support critical infrastructure, public safety, workforce development, and neighborhood revitalization efforts across St. Louis City and North County.\n\n\u201cFrom day one, one of my top priorities has been making sure federal dollars make their way back home to St. Louis,\u201d said Rep. Bell. \u201cOur communities send their tax dollars to Washington. They deserve to see that investment come back in the form of safer streets, modern infrastructure, stronger neighborhood institutions, and real economic opportunity. I\u2019m proud to have secured this funding, and I\u2019m excited to see these projects move from paper to reality in the neighborhoods they\u2019re meant to serve.\u201d\n\nBell championed funding for 14 projects that will directly benefit the St. Louis Region. These include:\n\n\u25cf $3,150,000 for St. Louis Lambert International Airport to construct a new Central Utility Plant and West Electrical Substation, critical infrastructure that supports the airport\u2019s Consolidated Terminal Program and long-term economic growth in the region.\n\n\u25cf $1,200,000 for St. Louis County\u2019s Operation Smart Street initiative to install advanced roadside units at traffic signals that communicate with vehicles, including emergency responders and buses, as well as pedestrians and cyclists, improving safety and modernizing regional transportation infrastructure.\n\n\u25cf $1,031,000 for the University of Missouri\u2013St. Louis to establish the API Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Hub, advancing cutting-edge pharmaceutical manufacturing research and strengthening domestic production of active pharmaceutical ingredients and finished drug products.\n\n\u25cf $1,031,000 for Harris-Stowe State University to modernize critical Urban Policing IT infrastructure, enhancing public safety training capabilities while expanding educational access for students.\n\n\u25cf $1,000,000 for the City of Ferguson for the Plaza @ 501 Development, creating a permanent home for the Ferguson Farmers Market, expanding downtown parking, and adding a fully accessible playground, splash pad, and community gathering space.\n\n\u25cf $850,000 for the Metropolitan Parks and Recreation District of St. Louis for the Brickline Greenway connection from the Cortex MetroLink Station to Forest Park, building out protected pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure and strengthening neighborhood connectivity.\n\n\u25cf $850,000 for the City of Northwoods to demolish the unusable Northwoods Community Health and Education Center and construct a modern, multipurpose facility serving families and residents.\n\n\u25cf $850,000 for the City of St. Louis to construct a new Southside Senior Citizens Center, expanding access to services and improving quality of life for seniors.\n\n\u25cf $850,000 for the City of St. Louis to construct the Northside Youth and Senior Service Center in The Ville neighborhood, expanding youth programming, senior nutrition and transportation services, and intergenerational activities.\n\n\u25cf $500,000 for the City of St. Louis for Phase 2 of the Compton Bridge Reconstruction project, replacing aging infrastructure and improving pedestrian and cyclist access and safety.\n\n\u25cf $324,000 for the City of Vinita Park to acquire four new police vehicles, strengthening emergency response capabilities across the community.\n\n\u25cf $250,000 for the City of St. Louis for the South Riverfront Redevelopment Project, relocating a city garbage facility to clear riverfront land for new economic development and port activity.\n\n\u25cf $250,000 for the City of St. Louis to upgrade the Emergency Management Simulation Training Lab, enhancing emergency response training capacity and supporting the graduation of additional paramedics.\n\n\u25cf $250,000 for the City of St. Louis to renovate and upgrade the Fire Training Tower, repairing safety systems and expanding hands-on training capacity for firefighters.\n\n###", 1, "2026-05-16T06:05:00Z", "2026-05-16T06:06:37Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://bell.house.gov/media/press-releases/bell-delivers-over-123-million-critical-projects-across-st-louis-region"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 3.0740208458155394, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}