Murray Secures Funds for Eastern Washington Community, Environmental, Economic Development and Public Safety Initiatives

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) — Senator Murray announced today that she has secured $2.85 million in fiscal year 2004 funding for Eastern Washington community, environmental, economic development, and public safety 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 that 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 proud to have secured this important funding to promote economic development in Okanogan County, child care in Spokane and education on the Spokane Indian Reservation.”

EASTERN WASHINGTON

Wellpinit School District – Wellpinit, Washington – $1 Million – The Wellpinit School District, located on the Spokane Indian Reservation, will use these funds to establish an Advanced Placement Virtual College Classroom in cooperation with the University of Washington and NASA Ames Research Center. Through this program, the Wellpinit School will provide enhanced science, mathematics, and technology literacy to its student body. Classrooms will be equipped with independent workstations, digital blackboards, a conference table, and webcams. In addition, state-of-the-art holographic projection devices will allow students and guest lecturers from NASA and educational institutions to interact in an enhanced virtual environment. This grant will allow the Wellpinit School to continue its progress in educating and creating opportunities for Native American students.

West Central Community Center – Spokane, Washington – $500,000 – The West Central Community Center will use these funds to construct a 17,000 square foot addition to an existing facility that will add 104 slots of full-day Head Start and childcare services. This project will help create critical childcare, healthcare and skill development infrastructure that will provide parents with resources to help them become economically independent. This project has already received $600,000 in State funding.

City of Spokane – Spokane, Washington – $600,000 – These funds will enable the City of Spokane to upgrade the Law Enforcement Information System that covers the City and all of Spokane County. The funds will support the development of an integrated data system for management and communication among multi-agency and multi-jurisdictional entities allowing information systems to handle a broader array of crimes including ID theft-document fraud.

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.

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

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 building a mapping system for various schools in Washington state. The project 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. These funds will allow this important project to move 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.