Dunshee and Loomis announce $26.5 million in local projects

January 23, 2008

OLYMPIA – If you build it, the jobs will come. That's the idea behind the state's Public Works Trust Fund, which gives local governments low-interest loans to build infrastructure projects.

"These projects create jobs in two ways," said Rep. Liz Loomis (D-Snohomish), a small business owner. "First, you hire local men and women who wear the hard hats, hammer nails and pour cement. Second, the projects they build mean new jobs for additional men and women when our local cities have the extra capacity to provide reliable sewer service and good, clean water."

Dunshee and Loomis voted yes in the House on January 23 for legislation to approve the statewide list of projects.

Those projects include:

• $4.5 million in Snohomish for a Waster Water Treatment Plant update.
• $2 million in Snohomish for Phase 1 improvements to combined-sewer overflow system.
• $20 million for Lake Stevens -- construction at the Sunnyside Waster Water Treatment Facility

"This is great news for our local workers and business owners," Dunshee said. "It's an investment in hope and jobs. Projects are judged on their merits, and only the most worthy projects get funded.  I'm proud that Lake Stevens and Snohomish made it to the top of the list, and with many local cities boosting their utility rates for water and sewer projects, this state money helps local taxpayers."