Washington State Public Works Board

Applications to PWB construction and preconstruction funding exceed funding available by $110M plus. The PWB’s second round of applications for traditional infrastructure closed Friday, June 28th at 11:59 PM. The PWB received 69 requests for $268.4M, this includes 58 requests for construction funding and 11 requests for preconstruction funding. The PWB staff will be reviewing applications over the summer and offering a rating and ranking of the projects for Board consideration late summer/early fall. Tune into the July 12th Board meeting for more information! Visit the PWB webpage using this link: pwb.wa.gov

We are honored that State Representative Cindy Ryu joined the PWB this Wednesday in celebrating the Olympic View Water and Sewer District’s last payment of a 20-year, low-interest loan! This loan was awarded by the PWB in 2004 to fund the Forest Glen Lift Station rehabilitation project, which began in 2004 and was completed in 2007. PWB appreciates the partnership with local jurisdictions like Olympic View Water and Sewer District because these repayments help keep PWB funds revolving to support other important infrastructure projects all across the state. Cheers to that warm and fuzzy moment of being debt-free!

On Tuesday, our PWB Executive Director, Maria Jawad served as a panelist at the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Expanding Climate Awareness and Resilience Training. This was a wonderful opportunity to learn more about how local utilities have utilized the Climate Resilience Evaluation and Awareness Tool (CREAT) made available by the EPA for assessing climate-related risks to utility assets and operations. Check out the new snazzy tool using this link: https://lnkd.in/djpD-Gu3

… and thank you for the deep listening to very small cities needs for Technical Assistance Grants for ‘eligibility’ to apply to the Public Works Board for critical infrastructure needs!

Commerce was in Vancouver last week to support communities and their leaders at the annual Association of Washington Cities conference. Our team members presented sessions on broadband, equity, access and deployment (BEAD), clean buildings performance standards, securing funding for cities, and planning for deeply affordable housing. These issue areas, and more, are at the forefront of community decision making. It was great to connect and learn from our city partners. Many thanks to the City of Vancouver, Washington for hosting this year's event! Mark Barkley, Valerie M. Smith, AICP, Erika Henry

Commerce today announced $72.6 million in grants for 71 community clean energy projects across Washington that advance environmental justice and equity. The funding from the state’s Climate Commitment Act will benefit communities in 24 counties through solar projects, hydrogen fueling, electricity microgrids and more. This afternoon, Gov. Jay Inslee, King County Executive Dow Constantine and the DUWAMISH RIVER COMMUNITY COALITION joined Commerce team members for a tour of the Georgetown Wet Weather Treatment Station in Seattle to announce the funding. The facility helps control, treat, and disinfect up to 70 million gallons per day of combined stormwater and sewage that previously overflowed, untreated into the Duwamish River during heavy rains. With a $200,076 grant, the facility will install a large solar photovoltaic array onsite to help offset the increased energy use by the UV disinfection treatment technology. All of the projects receiving grants had to include an environmental justice angle, meaning they had to benefit the people most impacted by climate change, who are typically lower income and people of color. “These awards get money into the hands of people who can immediately put it to use fighting climate change,” said Commerce Director Mike Fong. “These communities were empowered to use their own discretion to create projects that meet their needs, which will improve outcomes for everyone in Washington.” Read the full press release: https://bit.ly/3VrmprF

Tune in to the Washington State Broadband Office’s Internet for All webinar next Wednesday, June 26 at 2 p.m. They’ll provide updates for the current planning process to access federal funding that will bring high-speed broadband infrastructure to unserved and underserved communities across the state. You’re invited to ask questions and continue sharing challenges your community is facing. Join on Zoom: https://bit.ly/3z7Luk6 Learn more on the Internet for All webpage: https://bit.ly/3ZN1O2P

Construction, pre-construction, and emergency loan programs available 🔨 💸 ⚒ Applications for the construction loan program close at 11:59 PM on June 28, 2024!

Reminder for all local governments looking for public works project funding… the PWB is accepting applications for construction and pre construction projects till June 28th.