Press Releases
House Approves $6.7 Million for DelBene Community Projects
Washington, D.C.,
July 30, 2021
This week, the U.S. House of Representatives approved federal funding legislation that included $6.7 million for community projects across Washington’s 1st Congressional District. These projects were championed by DelBene and include recreation and community centers, child care facilities, career development and youth engagement programs, and telehealth expansion in rural areas that will directly benefit Washington families and communities. In April, DelBene submitted 10 projects to the House Appropriations Committee for consideration. The committee included all of DelBene’s requests in the twelve annual appropriations bills. The seven-bill appropriations package passed by the House this week includes nine of DelBene’s requests and now heads to the Senate for consideration. The nine community projects included in this package span the 1st Congressional District and include:
“This $6.7 million in federal investments will have a direct and meaningful impact in communities across WA-01, helping us build back better after the pandemic,” DelBene said. “These projects fill critical gaps in community access from providing support services for at-risk students and youth struggling with homelessness to modernizing and expanding recreation centers to offer high-speed internet and other needed resources.” The projects included in the legislation are: Project submissions came directly from non-profit, city, county, Tribal, and state entities, and all requests submitted to the committee were done in collaboration with project sponsors. “The City of Carnation appreciates Congresswoman DelBene’s leadership in securing funding in the House Appropriations bill for the Carnation Community Center and Emergency Operations Center project,” said Carnation Mayor Kim Lisk. “These funds will be used to complete these needed community resources that couldn’t be completed in concert with the new Town Hall without the funding support provided by Congress.” “This enables us to provide a new set of services for our community and improve health and wellness,” said Nooksack Indian Tribe Chairman Roswell Cline Sr. “We are in rural Whatcom County, thirty minutes from the nearest hospital, and with this new clinic Nooksack will have a trusted, one-stop shop for primary care services, with time and respect given to each patient.” “Funding for microenterprise development has always been competitive and has mostly consisted of small grants from local agencies and private foundations,” said Center for Inclusive Entrepreneurship Executive Director Mike Skinner. “Community Project Funding reflects growing awareness and appreciation for this work at the Federal level. Thanks to Community Project Funding, CIE participants will launch at least 10 new businesses and create 15 new jobs in Rep. DelBene’s district, and CIE will be positioned to access expanded Federal funding to continue the program into the future.” Detailed descriptions of the community projects submitted by DelBene can be found here. More information about the Community Project Funding process can be found here. |