Murray, Cantwell Announce Over $4.5 Million in USDA Grants and Loans to Strengthen Rural Infrastructure Across Washington State, Including Funding for New Child Care Facility in Columbia County

Washington, D.C. – This week, U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, announced $3,288,000 in grant funding and $1,345,000 in loans from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to strengthen rural infrastructure across Washington state, including by installing new water infrastructure in Yakima, creating a new child care facility in Columbia County, and replacing asbestos-laden concrete pipes. Overall, the investments announced by USDA will benefit nearly 480,000 people in 36 states and two U.S. territories while building and strengthening rural infrastructure and creating good-paying jobs.

Projects announced in Washington state included:

• $2,875,000 in grant funding and $988,000 in loan funding for Sun Country Estates Maintenance Association in Yakima to install new water mains, meters and valves to replace the current ones that are past their useful life. The funding comes through USDA’s Water & Waste Disposal Loan & Grant Program.

“Access to safe and reliable drinking water is absolutely essential—it’s a right, not a privilege,” said Senator Murray. “With these federal dollars, the Sun Country Estates Maintenance Association will finally be able to replace water mains, meters, and valves that are past their useful life—and ensure their senior residents in Yakima have clean water.”

“Senior communities need clean and safe drinking water,” said Senator Cantwell. “This grant will allow the Sun Country Estates in Yakima, to replace water infrastructure that’s past its useful life, helping to ensure decades of clean water for senior residents.”

• $413,000 in grant funding for Columbia County Public Hospital #1 to renovate a building to create a childcare facility, Touchet Valley Childcare Center. This will help enable the hospital district and other employers in the area to recruit and retain needed staff as lack of adequate childcare is currently detrimental to that process. The funding comes through USDA’s Community Facilities Grant Program.

“I’m excited to announce funding for a new child care center in Columbia County—the lack of affordable and accessible child care is a real crisis for families across Washington state and for our economy,” said Senator Murray. “This new facility will help families and local employers who are looking to recruit and retain talented workers.”

“Employers everywhere are struggling to find workers and remain adequately staffed, said Senator Cantwell. “This funding will allow Columbia County Health System to build a childcare facility to attract needed healthcare workers and provide care for communities in Dayton and throughout Columbia County.”

• $357,000 in loan funding for Holiday Valley Water in rural Thurston County to replace 60-year-old asbestos concrete pipes with Polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Holiday Valley Water Association is a community water system that was built in the 1960’s serving approximately 160 people. The Association is installing a new water main line to reduce the amount of maintenance and repair needed on the system; the repair will also address environmental issues including water waste due to leakage and asbestos in the pipes. Funding for this project comes through USDA’s Water & Waste Disposal Loan Guarantees Program.

“When we talk about investing in infrastructure, the needs of rural communities should be front and center,” said Senator Murray. “For far too long, the needs of these communities have been overlooked—even when it comes to critical infrastructure needs like replaced asbestos-laden water pipes. This grant will make sure every family in Thurston County has access to safe, healthy drinking water.”

“Water infrastructure is some of the most important infrastructure we have,” said Senator Cantwell. “More than 160 people in rural Thurston County will benefit from safer, cleaner water thanks to this grant, which will help replace aging asbestos-laden concrete water pipes with modern infrastructure.”

“USDA invests in rural America because we know strong communities are rooted in their people,” USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack said. “Powering people with modern infrastructure creates good-paying jobs and supports opportunities for people to build brighter futures. The investments we’re announcing today demonstrate the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to ensuring that people who live and work in rural areas have every opportunity to succeed—and that they can find those opportunities right at home.”

Under the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA’s Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities, create jobs and improve the quality of life for millions of Americans in rural areas. This assistance supports infrastructure improvements; business development; housing; community facilities such as schools, public safety and health care; and high-speed internet access in rural, Tribal and high-poverty areas.

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