For Immediate Release:

Thursday, September 4, 2003

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) -- Senator Murray announced today that she has secured $3.8 million in the fiscal year 2004 funding for Central Washington community, environmental and economic development initiatives. Senator Murray provided the funding in the Commerce, Justice, State and the Judiciary (CJSJ) and the Veterans Administration, Department of Housing and Urban Development (VA-HUD) Appropriations bills. The CJSJ and VA-HUD appropriations bills were approved today by the full Senate Appropriations Committee.

“These are important projects to address local concerns brought to my attention by local leaders.” said Murray. “This federal funding will provide jobs and economic development at a time when we need it most. I am particularly excited about projects like the Walter Clore Wine and Culinary Center and the Okanogan County Incubator Project that will contribute to economic development efforts in Central Washington.”

CENTRAL WASHINGTON

Hope Home - Pasco, Washington - $200,000
Hope Home will use these funds to purchase and renovate a home to house pregnant teens in the Tri-Cities area. The Tri-Cities has the highest teen pregnancy rate in Washington state. Hope Home does not currently have a home for pregnant teens. Local funds have been raised to complement federal funds to purchase and operate this facility.

Walter Clore Wine and Culinary Center - Prosser, Washington - $250,000 These federal funds will go towards completing the construction of the Walter Clore Wine and Culinary Center. The Washington Wine industry has gone through a major expansion and is a bright spot in the Central Washington economy. The project will create 14 direct jobs and will contribute to hundreds of additional jobs in the wine industry. The State of Washington and the wine industry have also made significant contributions to this project.

The Okanogan County Incubator Project -Okanogan, Washington - $250,000 The Economic Alliance will use these funds to construct a 20,000 square foot incubator building in Omak, Washington with eight bays and eight offices for light industrial business development. It is estimated that within the first two years, more than 50 jobs will be created or retained in Okanogan County. The Incubator Project offers an opportunity to diversify the local economy.

Wastewater Plant Improvement Project -Sunnyside, Washington - $1 million These funds will go towards completion of this two-phase $11 million project. The City of Sunnyside is considered a low-income community and these funds will moderate rate increases for low-income wastewater users. This project serves the broad public interest and is intended to bring the community-wide Wastewater Facility Treatment Plant up to a federal water quality compliance level.

Columbia Basin Groundwater Management Area -Adams, Grant and Franklin Counties, Washington -$500,000 -This project develops and implements locally-driven solutions to improve ground water quality in areas of documented nitrate concern. This is the fifth consecutive year of funding for this important local project.

Height Modernization/Washington - Central Washington University - $1 million - National Height Modernization is an effort to improve the latitude, longitude, and height systems used throughout the country by relying on the Global Positioning System satellites. This system will improve disaster planning, coastal and harbor navigation, road and building construction, aircraft navigation, enhanced agricultural practices and earthquake and volcano hazard assessment. Central Washington University will participate in this work with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) as well as state and local organizations throughout the country.

STATEWIDE

Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs, Public Building Mapping System - $250,000 - During a school incident, such as the one that occurred at Columbine High School in Colorado, first responders need access to school floor plans, known hazards and evacuation plans. In 2001, the Washington State Legislature appropriated funds to facilitate a building mapping system for various schools in Washington state. It has been very successful. Its success, however, has caused state and local government leaders to request a building mapping system for all public buildings, not just schools. In order to initiate the public building mapping system, the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs (WASPC) must first establish the central site. The funds provided by Senator Murray will allow the project to go forward.

Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission -$350,000 - The Washington State Tribes and the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission Coordinated Water Quality Program - an EPA/Tribal partnership - has provided a forum for continuous and meaningful communication between tribes, state and federal agencies. It has generated successful state/federal partnerships to improve water quality and has helped fulfill the federal government’s trust obligation to tribes.