U.S. Rep. Grace F. Napolitano, D-El Monte, presented the city of Baldwin Park with a $750,000 check to Mayor Emmanuel J. Estrada and the Baldwin Park City Council for the expansion of the Teri G. Muse Family Service Center on April 4.

“These realities mean that the impact that this funding will have will be nothing short of empowering for our Baldwin Park and San Gabriel Valley families,” said  Estrada at the check presentation. “Congresswoman Napalitano, I’m grateful to you for securing this funding and the community empowerment and togetherness that will sprout from it.”

A hub for nonprofit organizations, the center is downtown in Baldwin Park. It has offered social, economic, legal, health and human services to vulnerable youth, seniors and families since 1996.

The city has already identified matching funds to begin the planning and design phase of the project.

The Family Service Center will expand to 12,000 square feet, providing additional community meeting rooms, an exhibit hall, private office spaces, a family room and a commercial kitchen.

According to city officials, the expansion will enable city staff and nonprofit organizations to better address myriad issues facing the region and Baldwin Park. In 2021, the City Council hosted community meetings to understand residents’ thoughts on how to improve quality of life in Baldwin Park.

“I’m excited for the possibilities we will unlock through this expansion,” said Councilmember Alejandra Avila.

Napolitano secured the funding in the Fiscal Year 2023 Omnibus Funding Bill with the support of city of Baldwin Park representatives, U.S. Sens. Diane Feinstein and Alex Padilla, state Sen. Susan Rubio and Assemblywoman Blanca Rubio.

Other projects remain on the city’s horizon. 

Baldwin Park received more than $6 million to expand Barnes Park and continue greening the Big Dalton Wash Trail, as well as more than a million dollars to construct its second tiny home village in less than a year.

Another $6 million state budget appropriation will cover more than half of the cost to construct the Susan Rubio Zocalo Park & Civic Center Plaza in downtown Baldwin Park. Another grant of $761,672 will be used to build the Maine Avenue Mini Park on a lot the city purchased to expand its parks system.

“Not only can our staff better serve our families with our existing services, but an expanded center will also spell an opportunity for greater collaboration among our service providers to better tackle many of the systemic challenges we face,” said Mayor Pro-Tem Monica Garcia.