12.23.22

Omnibus Bill Includes Funding for 7 Grassroots Projects in Northwest Washington

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) announced that 7 grants for grassroots projects in Northwest Washington she supported are included in the final version of the Fiscal Year 2023 Omnibus Appropriations Bill, securing nearly $10,000,000 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.

Northwest Washington - $9,498,000 total. Projects include:

Edmonds College Advanced Manufacturing Skills Center – Snohomish County: $1,300,000

This funding creates two expedited pathways into careers in Marine and Artificial Intelligence (AI) Robotics. AMSC staff will partner with the Center for Advanced Manufacturing Puget Sound (CAMPS) to engage with industry employers, manufacturers, and subject matter experts in developing short term manufacturing skills training that leads to employment in the Marine Industry and AI Robotics. The project will use the successful and lauded model we created for the aerospace industry at The Washington Aerospace Training and Research (WATR) Center.

Electric Bus Purchase- Diesel Replacement – Snohomish County: $2,000,000

This funding will support Everett Transit’s purchase of five zero-emission buses with the charging systems and infrastructure to support them. Acquiring funding for five electric buses will result in considerable savings over the useful life of the vehicles. The savings can be attributed to reduced fuel and maintenance costs, thereby allowing financial resources to support transportation services in the community.

20th Street NE and Main Street Improvements – Snohomish County: $2,500,000

Funding for this project will be used to complete the Main Street improvements to progress the city’s multimodal transportation system. Funding would put the finishing touches on a series of efforts to create a vibrant waterfront destination in Downtown Lake Stevens. As Lake Stevens has evolved from a small town to a diverse community of nearly 39,000, Lake Stevens has taken bold steps, as identified in its Downtown Plan, to rejuvenate the historic heart of the city.

Bellingham Interim Family Housing – Whatcom County: $2,000,000

This funding will go toward the construction of 25-30 emergency housing units for low-income families experiencing homelessness. This facility will also include onsite wrap-around services to address behavioral health concerns, employment re-entry, and secure children’s access to education and childcare resources.

The full list of all 7 projects included for Northwest Washington is available HERE.

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