Brooklyn, NY – On Thursday, the New York State Assembly Asian Pacific American (APA) Task Force Chair Assemblymember Grace Lee and Assemblymember William Colton announced $920,000 in state funding for Brooklyn Chinese-American Association, a leading Asian American community organization serving Chinese Americans in Brooklyn.

This award is a part of a historic $30 million investment in Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) New Yorkers in the FY 2025-26 State Budget, secured for the third consecutive year by the APA Task Force.

“As Chair of the Asian Pacific American Task Force, I am proud to have led historic progress for our Asian American communities, securing $30 million every year for three consecutive years in the state budget, including this year’s $920,000 grant for BCA to serve the vibrant Chinese American community in South Brooklyn,” said Assemblymember Grace Lee, Chairwoman of the APA Task Force. “As Republicans in Washington are defunding SNAP benefits and healthcare and attacking our immigrant communities, it is even more important than ever that in New York, we fight to make sure Asian American communities get support and resources.”

“The Brooklyn Chinese American Association serves as a valuable resource for seniors, adults, and students within the community,” said Speaker Carl E. Heastie. “It offers essential support and has established itself as a prominent multigenerational hub, giving those served a sense of pride and joy. I would like to extend my gratitude to both Assemblymember Grace Lee and William Colton for their unwavering commitment and advocacy to the people of Brooklyn. This historic investment will allow for the organization to continue to positively impact lives.”

“Since its founding, BCA has proven itself to be an important organization that delivers crucial services to residents across southwest Brooklyn,” said Assemblyman William Colton. “It is my honor to have helped facilitate this grant, which will help BCA assist my constituents and many others, many of them immigrants, from young children to seniors, in a wide variety of arenas – education, child care and senior support among them.”

The Brooklyn Chinese-American Association (BCA) is a nonprofit based in South Brooklyn that provides culturally responsive adult education, early childhood education, youth programming, senior services, and comprehensive social services for vulnerable Chinese American and immigrant communities. BCA’s after-school programs serve more than 1,600 public school students daily across six Brooklyn schools, and its senior centers serve over 700 seniors each day.

“Over the past three years, with support from the NYS AAPI Community Development Fund, the Brooklyn Chinese American Association (BCA) has substantially expanded and strengthened its programs to better serve individuals and families across the community,” said Paul Mak, President and CEO of BCA. “In response to post–COVID‑19 challenges and a rise in anti‑Asian hate incidents, BCA enhanced our 24‑hour crime prevention and reporting hotline to provide a reliable safety net for Brooklyn’s Asian residents. We also distributed more than 85,000 grab‑and‑go meals and conducted wellness check‑in calls for over 4,000 homebound seniors. Case managers provided support to approximately 2,300 clients, helping them navigate entitlement applications and access essential services. To advance health and youth development, BCA delivered roughly 70 workshops attended by more than 8,500 participants. We thank the APA Task Force for their support. These initiatives address urgent needs while strengthening long‑term community well‑being and resilience.”

Other elected officials attending the funding presentation included Councilmember Susan Zhuang and District Leaders Larry He, Joyce Xie, and Tony Ying.

“As a mother and an immigrant myself, I know how important it is to have trusted community organizations that understand our families’ needs,” said Councilmember Susan Zhuang. “I’m grateful to Assemblymember Lee, Assemblymember Colton, and the APA Task Force for investing in the Brooklyn Chinese-American Association, which has been a lifeline for countless seniors, children, and working families in South Brooklyn.”

“I applaud and appreciate the New York State Assembly leadership for their commitment and dedication to the Asian community and look forward to seeing this kind of investment fund critical programs that benefit the entire community," said District Leader Larry He.

“I am very appreciative of APA Task Force Chair Assemblywoman Grace Lee and Assemblyman Colton’s support to the Asian Community. This funding not only benefits the Brooklyn Chinese American Association, it is for the whole community,” said District Leader Joyce Xie.