Rep. Schrier Brings Home $22 Million For Local Projects Around the 8th District

via press release from schrier.house.gov

WASHINGTON, DC – Today Congresswoman Kim Schrier, M.D. (WA-08) announced that 15 local projects will receive over $22 million as part of the Community Project Funding program included in the FY23 government funding bill. The projects will improve the lives of residents across the 8th District.

"I'm thrilled that I could go to bat for the 8th District and make sure all 15 of our district’s requested projects received funding," said Rep. Schrier. "These projects are a unique opportunity to advocate for our community’s needs. Local governments and nonprofits know what our communities need best, and that is why I went directly to them for recommendations about what the federal budget should prioritize. I am especially grateful to my Advisory Board for their dedication to our district and for prioritizing such tremendous projects. This is a testament to just how much the projects will benefit their communities. I can’t wait to visit all the projects in the coming year!"

Last funding cycle, Rep. Schrier secured over $11 million for local projects as part of the FY22 government funding bill. For the FY23 government funding bill, 15 projects were selected by an independent advisory board, vetted by the Appropriations Committee, and included in the final spending package.

In addition to the 15 projects, Rep. Schrier’s bill, the Diagnostic Device Advisory Committee Act, was included in the government funding bill. This bill ensures that if we are in a situation again where diagnostic tests need to be approved quickly for public health purposes, there is already a system in place, ready to respond. Rep. Schrier has been a major proponent of increasing access to rapid antigen tests during the pandemic. This will be her third bill signed into law this year and 15th since coming to Congress.

The 15 local projects that will receive funding include:

• Bethel School District’s Graham Community Center, Spanaway-- $2,250,000: This community center will help create opportunities for older students with special needs, equipping them with the skills they need to be successful in the workplace and the community.

• Central Washington University Student Medical & Counseling Center, Medical Grade Air Distribution, Ellensburg-- $1,000,000: The CWU Student Medical & Counseling Center was built in 1970 and has never had any major renovations or expansions, including the original heating/ventilation/air conditioning (HVAC) system. A new medical grade air distribution system will reduce the spread of airborne pathogens, benefiting the health of students, staff, and the greater Ellensburg community. Additionally, a new system will be more cost and energy efficient than the current system.

• Chelan Douglas Community Action Council (CDCAC) Food Distribution Center, Wenatchee-- $3,000,000: CDCAC’s current food distribution facility is inadequate to meet the increase in demand, avoid food waste, and ensure the safe storage of food products and safety of employees and volunteers. The location of the new facility will reduce travel times, expand programs focusing on local purchasing of farm goods through expansion of commercial processing equipment, improve safety measures, and provide for a dedicated volunteer and employee training space.

• Creek Restoration at Lake Sammamish State Park, Issaquah-- $1,023,632: Issaquah Creek has been identified by King County Surface Water Management as one of its three most important watersheds. This park is a critical source of shelter, food, and habitat for wildlife amid rapid urban growth. In-stream restoration will directly benefit the regional economy through jobs and purchase of local materials while the 1.3 million annual visitors to the park support Washington’s outdoor recreation sector.

• Crisis Response Team, King County-- $1,000,000: Crisis response teams enhance the ability of the Sheriff’s Office to respond to crime, prioritizing property and violent crimes, while simultaneously helping to improve outcomes for individuals in crisis and reducing use of force incidents by law enforcement. Funding will allow King County to expand co-response programs to East King County communities, including Maple Valley, Covington, and Sammamish.

• Heritage Heights at Lake Chelan Conversion to Memory Care, Chelan-- $800,000: Currently there are no memory care facilities within 40 miles of the Lake Chelan Valley. Expanding Heritage Heights to better serve the aging community will make it possible for seniors to age close to their families, doctors, and existing support systems.

• HopeSource’s Teanaway Multi-Service Center, Cle Elum-- $2,030,000: This project will increase access to affordable housing, child care and social support services by adding 40 housing units, a 50-seat early learning child care center, and a neighborhood nutrition center and community gathering space. Increasing access to quality, affordable, child care for all children in Kittitas County will better support working families. The construction and development of Teanaway Multi-Service Center will create more than 35 permanent jobs and will be an investment in the community's economic growth.

• Issaquah Valley Aquifer, Issaquah-- $600,000: This project will add two improvements to the existing Granular Activated Carbon PFAS treatment system to prevent freezing and connect the backwash process waste to the sewer. Keeping the current well in operation and upgrading the existing PFAS treatment system will reduce demand on neighboring utilities, mitigate PFAS in the water supply for residents, and make sure that residents in the city of Issaquah have access to clean water.

• King County Sheriff’s Body Worn Cameras, King County-- $1,000,000: King County Sheriff’s Office is the largest law enforcement agency in Washington State not using body worn camera (BWC) technology. Funding will allow earlier deployment to a wider geography, making it possible for BWCs to be deployed in areas of south and east King County sooner than anticipated. Body worn cameras bring transparency and accountability to law enforcement and assist with documentation for deputies. The program will create 7-9 new full-time positions.

• Muckleshoot Tribe’s Water Improvements, Auburn-- $3,452,972: Current drinking water systems are in critical need for upgrades and system redundancy improvements to sustain water consumption use to over three thousand Tribal citizens, as well as community members residing or co-residing in Tribal housing.

• Regional Search and Rescue and Emergency Management Operations Facility, Ellensburg-- $1,186,320: A new Emergency Operations Center centrally located to search and rescue operations and wildland fires will provide a more cost effective, efficient, and timely administration of public safety services.

• Snoqualmie Indian Tribe Child Development Center Expansion, Snoqualmie-- $1,500,000:The expansion of the Snoqualmie Tribe’s child care center will increase capacity in the center to help meet the increased demand from working families. Additionally, the center will create 19 direct jobs as well as support local vendors.

• Solar/Smart Grid Modernization Project, Ellensburg-- $1,500,000: Infrastructure upgrades will allow the City of Ellensburg to deliver renewable energy and energy efficiency to 8,370 residents living at or below 185% of the Federal Poverty Level. In 2019, more than 56% of households were cost-burdened, making energy costs a critical factor in community resiliency.

• The Market Farm to Fork and Smart Locker Program, Buckley-- $2,000,000: This program will invest in greenhouse infrastructure to allow for year-round food production which will lead to lower food purchasing costs and increase food security resilience. Additional investments in smart lockers will keep food fresh and safe for family pickups.

• YWCA North Central Washington Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH), Wenatchee--$200,000: Upgrading and modernizing the Permanent Supportive Housing building ensures YWCA can continue to serve the community and provide needed safe and stable housing.

Additional information about the projects can be found here.