Congresswoman María Elvira Salazar is steering a fresh wave of federal cash into Miami, announcing this week that she landed $25.6 million for 13 community projects across Florida’s 27th Congressional District, covering everything from PortMiami’s refrigerated cargo to neighborhood flood control and cancer research labs.
The funding bundle touches a wide swath of local needs: public-safety equipment, stormwater and drainage fixes, roadway resurfacing, coastal resilience studies and a new senior center. Salazar’s office says the projects are spread across the district, reaching neighborhoods from Key Biscayne down to Cutler Bay.
The allocations are tucked inside the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2026 (H.R. 7148), which became law on February 3, 2026, and were rolled out publicly in a February 20 announcement from the congresswoman. According to a press release from Rep. Salazar's office, the FY26 package covers 13 projects totaling $25.6 million, while Congress.gov confirms H.R. 7148 was enacted on February 3.
Where The Money Goes
The FY26 earmarks spread across public safety, flood relief and environmental work. The package includes $5 million to expand PortMiami’s refrigerated cargo capacity; $5 million for drainage improvements and roadway elevation in flood-prone areas; $2.1 million for marked police cruisers and $1.25 million for a violence-reduction initiative; and $3.13 million for Florida International University’s Precision Medicine Initiative. Other funded items include septic-to-sewer conversions, a hybrid reef shoreline study and roadway resurfacing in Coral Way, Pinecrest, Key Biscayne and Cutler Bay. A full breakdown of the 13 projects is available via Community Newspapers.
PortMiami, FIU And Local Seniors
PortMiami’s $5 million slice is targeted at boosting refrigerated cargo capacity as Miami leans further into the perishables trade. On the research front, $3.13 million is set aside for FIU’s precision-medicine cancer work under its Precision Medicine Initiative.
The package also puts $1 million toward building a senior activity center in West Miami, envisioned as a daily programming hub that can double as an emergency center during crises, according to Rep. Salazar's office.
How These Awards Work And What Comes Next
Since these are community project allocations inside an already enacted omnibus bill, the federal money does not just pour in overnight. Local governments and agencies now have to line up contracting, permitting and any required matching funds before shovels can hit the ground. The House Appropriations Committee maintains public tables and guidance for FY26 community project funding that lay out timelines and next steps for members of Congress and local recipients.
“This is about keeping my promise to South Florida,” Salazar said in her announcement. Her office says she has now delivered more than $89.5 million for 47 community projects since taking office. Community Newspapers carries the full project list along with contact information for the local officials tasked with turning those line items into real-world construction and programs.
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