(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – U.S. Senator Patty Murray, the highest ranking Democrat on the Senate Transportation, Treasury, the Judiciary and Housing and Urban Development (TTHUD) Subcommittee today announced that she has secured over $4 million in federal funding for a number of economic development and renewal projects in Puget Sound. The bill also includes funding that Murray secured for Washington state’s housing and transportation priorities.
“In this tight budget year I am happy to have secured critical federal dollars to help improve our economy and quality of life here in the Puget Sound,” Senator Murray said. “These projects were brought to me by local officials and advocates and will help provide the cultural and economic renewal to revitalize our communities and move our region forward.”
Puget Sound Economic Development Projects
Greenbridge Community Center Renovation Project — $500,000
The Boys and Girls Club of King County is the primary user of the Greenbridge Community Center and provides recreation, youth, after school, and homework support programs for children and teens living in the White Center area of unincorporated King County. The renovation of the community center is a key component of the King County Housing Authority’s $165 million redevelopment of the former Park Lake Homes public housing project. The funding secured by Senator Murray will go toward the cost of the renovation project and enable the community center to expand its range of programs and services available to low-income and immigrant households.
Wing Luke Asian Museum Expansion Project — $325,000
The Wing Luke Asian Museum has earned a national reputation for excellence and is the first affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution in the Pacific Northwest. This expansion project will add 38,000 square feet of space for exhibitions, retail, administrative offices, and a community hall. The project will rehabilitate the historic East Kong Yick Building (also known as the Freeman Hotel), one of the first buildings in Seattle’s International District. The funding secured by Senator Murray will assist in the Wing Luke Asian Museum in leveraging additional funding for this important project.
Asian Counseling and Referral Service Facility Construction — $500,000
The Asian Counseling and Referral Service (ACRS) provides a variety of services for the Asian Pacific American community in the Seattle-area, including: mental health and substance abuse treatment, domestic violence intervention, job training, naturalization assistance, food bank and nutrition programs, elderly care, and a legal clinic. Serving 18,000 clients a year in more than 30 languages, the ACRS has been recognized as a national leader in providing services to low-income Asian Pacific Americans. With their caseload growing by more than 400%, the ACRS has launched a capital campaign to finance a new facility in Seattle’s Rainier Valley. The funding secured by Senator Murray will support this effort and enable the ACRS to provide greater access to these critical services.
Easter Seals Washington — $400,000
Formed in 1947, Easter Seals Washington has been providing quality programming and services to people with disabilities for more than 57 years, including operation of Camp Stand By Me in Vaughn, Washington. Camp Stand By Me is one of only a few camps in the state specifically designed to address the particular challenges of people with disabilities—regardless of severity—in a fully accessible recreational environment. The funding secured by Senator Murray will enable Easter Seals to build a new Camp and Respite Lodging Facility and help double the capacity of Camp Stand By Me and enable the camp to expand its mission to serve children with chronic illnesses.
North Helpline — $500,000
North Helpline provides a variety of emergency services to low-income families and the homeless living in north Seattle, Lake Forest Park, and Shoreline. Services include: a food bank; financial aid to prevent evictions and utility shut-offs; bus tickets to doctor appointments and job interviews; diapers and baby food; and referrals to other human service agencies. North Helpline currently is co-located with Seattle Fire Engine #39 in a city building scheduled for demolition in 2008. The funding secured by Senator Murray will support North Helpline’s efforts to find a new location.
Fremont Public Association Affordable Housing Capital Campaign — $500,000
The Fremont Public Association works to end poverty in Seattle and throughout King County. For over 30 years it has provided affordable housing, jobs, health care, food and education to the homeless. To expand its services FPA is embarking on a capital campaign to build up to 50 units of affordable/special needs housing for homeless families and individuals. The funding secured by Senator Murray will help move this important project forward.
Seattle Aquarium Renovation and Expansion — $325,000
With over 700,000 visitors per year and education programs serving 50,000 students per year, the Seattle Aquarium is the region’s largest marine environmental education center. The Aquarium is undergoing an extensive renovation and expansion project to enlarge its exhibit space and upgrade unsafe rotting and polluting creosote-soaked pilings with steel and concrete pillars. The funds secured by Senator Murray will be used toward the expansion project and help leverage additional funds.
Northwest African American Museum — $325,000
The Urban League of Seattle is transforming the historic Coleman School in Seattle’s Central District to create the Northwest African American Museum. The new museum will be the first permanent regional resource of its kind with year-round exhibits devoted to African American arts, culture and history. In addition, the museum will maintain an active calendar of live events – dramatic performances, lectures, concerts and community activities. The funding secured by Senator Murray will help move this important project forward.
Olympic Sculpture Park — $500,000
The Seattle Art Museum is home to one of the largest public collections of art in the Pacific Northwest. The Olympic Sculpture Park will serve as an extension of the museum and will redevelop 8.5 acres of a former industrial site in order to provide space for large statutes and outdoor art installations. The park will be open to the public free of charge. The funding secured by Senator Murray will help be used toward development of the new park.
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