$3M In Funds Coming To Institutions Of Study​​ In Central Queens

REGO PARK-KEW GARDENS, QUEENS — Three institutions of study in central Queens are slated to receive millions of dollars from the American Rescue Plan, alongside dozens of colleges and universities in Queens and Long Island, U.S. Rep. Thomas Suozzi (D-NY) announced Wednesday.

The American Rescue Plan, which is aimed at supporting colleges, universities, and students with the financial fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic, has set aside $36 billion for nearly 3,500 public and private, nonprofit colleges and universities across the United States — over $444 million of which is on its way to Long Island and Queens.

Metropolitan Learning Institute in Rego Park, Yeshiva Shaar Hatorah-Grodno in Kew Gardens, and Rabbinical Seminary of America in Kew Gardens Hills, which are among a dozen institutions in Queens receiving $177,205,453 in aid total, were granted $2,437,292, $110,014, and $637,111, respectively.

About half of the funding that each public and private non-profit institution receives, and all funding received by for-profit institutions, must be spent on emergency cash assistance grants to students who are facing financial difficulty, hunger, and other hardship, according to a news release.

The funding will also help colleges and universities safely re-open, which will "boost local businesses that rely on the student and faculty population," Suozzi said.

"The pandemic has made financial uncertainty for students much worse," said Suozzi, who represents parts of northeastern Queens including Little Neck, Whitestone, Glen Oaks and Floral Park.

"This plan requires that most of this funding must be used to assist college students facing financial difficulties. Help is on the way,” he added.

Suozzi encouraged any students who are experiencing financial difficulty due to COVID-19 to contact their educational institutions for more information about how they can apply for an emergency grant.

Updated guidance from the Department of Education can be found here, outlining who can apply for the funding, how the funds can be used, and the specifies for all the students enrolled on or after March 13, 2020, the date of the declaration of the national emergency, and their eligibility to receive emergency grants.

Here's a list of the funding, which includes an asterisk next to the names of schools in Suozzi's congressional district.

Here's the breakdown for Queens:

• CUNY Queens College: $51,931,565
• CUNY LaGuardia Community College: $48,792,766
• Queensborough Community College: $41,670,718
• CUNY York College: $24,529,339
• Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology: $6,344,498
• Metropolitan Learning Institute: $2,437,292
• Rabbinical Seminary of America: $637,111
• CUNY School of Law: $417,451
• Beis Medrash Heichal Dovid: $243,820
• Yeshiva Shaar Hatorah-Grodno: $110,014
• Yeshiva of Far Rockaway Derech Ayson: $58,297
• Yeshiva Zichron Aryeh: $32,582

Total: $177,205,453

The breakdown for Long Island is as follows:

• State University of New York at Stony Brook: $53,830,978
• Suffolk County Community College: $45,320,205
• Nassau Community College: $38,449,409
• State University of New York at Farmingdale:$22,254,442
• Long Island University: $21,809,870*
• SUNY College at Old Westbury: $16,804,964*
• Hofstra University: $16,107,212
• Adelphi University: $14,720,577
• New York Institute of Technology: $12,170,280*
• Saint Joseph's College: $10,975,629
• Molloy College: $8,959,688
• New York College of Health Professions: $1,640,624*
• United States Merchant Marine Academy: $1,388,228*
• VEEB Nassau County School of Practical Nursing: $1,010,811*
• Western Suffolk BOCES: $1,133,708Rabbinical College of Long Island: $454,931
• New York College of Traditional Chinese Medicine: $189,202
• Shor Yoshuv Rabbinical College: $184,610
• Webb Institute: $88,362*

Total: $267,493,730

A full list of funds released for colleges and universities across New York State can be found here.

Patch reporter Peggy Spellman Hoey contributed to this piece.