12.23.22

Omnibus Bill Includes Funding for 18 Grassroots Projects in Puget Sound Region

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) announced that 18 grants for grassroots projects in the greater Puget Sound she supported are included in the final version of the Fiscal Year 2023 Omnibus Appropriations Bill, securing nearly $45 million for the region. The bill also includes billions in nationwide investments that are likely to benefit Washingtonians. Yesterday, the Senate passed the Omnibus by a vote of 68-29 and the House passed the Omnibus today by a vote of 225-201. It is now headed to the President’s desk for signature.

Greater Puget Sound – $44,448,410 total. Projects include: 

Tacoma Rescue Mission Men’s Shelter Building Expansion – Pierce County, $4,000,000

This grant supports the permitting, architectural, and design needs to expand the Tacoma Rescue Mission Men’s Shelter to allow for 100 additional beds and for inclement weather shelter expansion of an additional 20-40 spaces. There is an estimated gap of at least 427 beds in Tacoma at any given time.

Eastrail Crossing and SR 202 Trestle Widening – King County: $2,500,000

This project will widen a four-lane road under a trestle bridge into six lanes to reduce a major bottleneck in the growing downtown Woodinville area. It will also remove an unused rail trestle over SR 202 and construct a dedicated non-motorized /pedestrian bridge as an essential crossing of the Eastrail trail system.  

Duwamish and Green River Basin – King County: $2,000,000

This project will help restore the entire Green and Duwamish River ecosystem spanning the tidal estuaries to the spawning and wildlife habitat areas in the upper basin. Elements of this project focus on the restoration of critical habitat for several anadromous fisheries stocks and wildlife species that are threatened or endangered.

UW-Seattle: Equity & Ecosystem Health Through Water Column Observation: $1,500,000

This grant supports the creation of an operational, real-time ecosystem ocean profiling buoy network designed to aid the understanding of climate and oceanographic changes that can and do impact coastal economies, cultures, and communities.

The full list of all 18 projects included for the greater Puget Sound region is available HERE.

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