$42,399,656 potentially coming to WA-02
Did you hear the news? Last month, I requested $42 million for fifteen local projects in the 2025 spending bill through the House's Community Project Funding requests system. For context, we were able to secure $19.3 million for projects in this year's spending package — $42,399,656 would be a great addition!
Before we dive into the specifics of these projects, I want to underscore that this is work I am deeply passionate about. Bringing funding like this back to communities in Northwest Washington will make a real impact on our daily lives. Can you chip in $3 to my re-election campaign before our end-of-quarter fundraising deadline this month and help me continue this work?
Here is an overview of these projects and a quick synopsis of how they will allow us to reinvest in more sustainable infrastructure, improve community services, and accelerate education and workforce development:
$16,238,000 for investments in sustainable infrastructure:
- Everett: $5,040,000 requested for the Holly Roundabout project to design and construct a roundabout at 100 Street and Holly Drive;
- Lynden: $3,088,000 to support the design and construction of the Pepin Parkway Bridge;
- Skagit: $3,000,000 to support the construction of Transit's Maintenance Operations and Administration Facility;
- Community Transit: $3,000,000 to purchase three battery-electric buses with chargers to replace diesel buses that are beyond their expected useful life;
- Oak Harbor: $450,000 to improve pedestrian access and make all sidewalks and parking areas ADA-compliant at The Center at Oak Harbor;
- Island County: $2,800,000 to build a new solid waste transfer station to make the county's waste management processes cheaper and more efficient, and mitigate impacts to public health, safety, and the environment; and
- Port of Edmonds: $1,860,000 for a reconstruction of the North Portwalk and Seawall to build a public waterfront plaza and support electrical upgrades.
$15,681,335 for investments in community services:
- Lummi Nation: $10,430,485 for the Lummi Indian Business Council's Lummi Detox Center, which will feature a stabilization and withdrawal management facility, culturally attuned care and aftercare, treatment, and family support for Tribal members impacted by the opioid crisis;
- Edmonds: $2,200,000 to improve Edmonds Food Bank space to include a commercial kitchen, an urban garden, and community spaces;
- Bellingham: $2,000,000 to renovate the Bellingham Central Library including updated windows, entrances, and a refreshed reading plaza;
- Whatcom County: $919,600 to renovate Whatcom County's Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Services Douglas Building to better serve survivors; and
- Orcas Island: $131,250 to replace the failing roof on the Orcas Senior Center to ensure seniors continue to access services.
$7,480,321 for investments in education and workforce development:
- Edmonds: $3,755,447 to establish a community center featuring a cultural retention and arts center, vocational school, commercial kitchen, deli-specialty store, and child care at the Edmonds College and Latino Educational Training Institute's Incubator for Family Success;
- Edmonds: $2,234,474 to retrofit fluorescent lighting at Meadowdale High, Edmonds-Woodway High, and Meadowdale Middle schools with LED lighting which will reduce energy usage by 30 percent; and
- Bellingham: $1,490,400 to support Western Washington University's acquisition of a new research vessel for WWU marine and coastal science educational and research activities.
[If you are excited about the potential of these projects coming to fruition, please consider making a contribution to my re-election campaign today so we can continue this important work together.}(https://secure.actblue.com/donate/stand-with-rick-larsen?refcode=2024-06-20-cfp&amount=3&amounts=10%2C30%2C50%2C100%2C200)
This potential funding will give our community the resources to create jobs, build better infrastructure, and break down barriers to and improve vital services Washingtonians rely on.
More soon,
Rick
