By Patrick Crowley
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Millions of dollars for Northern Kentucky projects and organizations are included in the spending bill Congress approved Thursday, U.S. Senators Jim Bunning and Mitch McConnell said Friday.

The bill will now be sent to President Bush, who is expected to sign it into law.

"These projects are important to Kentucky," said McConnell, a Louisville Republican. "I was pleased to help bring this money home. This funding will be used to increase economic growth in the area, while also making it safer for Northern Kentuckians."

Bunning, a Republican from Southgate, said of the $5 million he helped secure for Northern Kentucky, "I am especially proud of the $150,000 in the bill for the Henry Hosea House to help feed some of our most needy."

Federal money will also be going to:

The Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport: $3 million for navigational equipment for the new north/south runway expected to open in December 2005.

Transit Authority of Northern Kentucky, or TANK: $1.5 million for bus replacement and a depot expansion project.

Urban University Partnership for Mathematics and Science Instruction at Northern Kentucky University: $1.2 million.

Kenton County Sheriff's Office: $200,000 for communications equipment.

Boone and Kenton counties: $550,000 for flood prevention and conservation projects.

City of Fort Thomas: $35,000 to develop and implement drug education and prevention program in the city's school system.

E-mail pcrowley@enquirer.com