Tag Archives: Othello

Sen. Mark Schoesler

Schoesler applauds state CERB grant for Othello market district study

A $50,000 state grant awarded to Othello to conduct a study of a possible market district and food makers’ incubator could help the community and its agriculture-based economy, said state Sen. Mark Schoesler.

The state Community Economic Revitalization Board approved the grant for Othello at its Nov. 21 meeting, noting the grant was matched by $16,667 in local funds.

“I know that Othello is looking to secure a site in its downtown area to create a market district and food makers incubator area,” said Schoesler, R-Ritzville. “The CERB grant will help the city study how this project can best help the community, its entrepreneurs and farmers in the surrounding area. I support local farmers markets because they provide communities with the opportunity to buy and sell locally farmed or produced food and other products. These markets help Washington farmers and agriculture in general.”

Schoesler represents the 9th Legislative District, which covers all or part of Adams, Asotin, Franklin, Garfield, Spokane and Whitman counties.

9th District legislators secure support in new capital budget for local projects

The 9th Legislative District team of Sen. Mark Schoesler and Reps. Mary Dye and Joe Schmick applauded today’s passage of a new two-year state capital (construction) budget that includes funding for dozens of projects in the district.

The $4.9 billion capital budget funds the construction and maintenance of state buildings, public schools, higher education facilities, public lands, parks and other assets throughout Washington. 

The Senate voted 48-0 to pass the final version of the capital budget (Substitute House Bill 1102) Saturday night. The House approved it 97-1 today.

“There were many local and community projects that Representatives Dye and Schmick and I asked to be put in either the House or Senate version of the capital budget early this session, and I’m pleased to see they are included in the final version negotiated during the past several days,” said Schoesler, R-Ritzville. “It’s good to see that this budget will help fund our local projects.”   

“Citizens across the 9th District send a lot of their hard-earned money to Olympia in the form of taxes. The capital budget is a way to get some of that back to provide needed improvements and projects that create jobs and benefit the folks back home,” said Dye, R-Pomeroy, and a member of the House Capital Budget Committee. “I’m honored to be able to work with my seatmates and colleagues on the Capital Budget Committee to help fund these projects in the 9th District.”

“Local projects such as these help strengthen our rural communities and provide much-needed infrastructure improvements that might otherwise be financially unattainable,” said Schmick, R-Colfax.  “Legislators from the 9th District work as a team to get these needed projects into the budget.  I’m pleased with the results and know our citizens will benefit from our efforts.”

Nearly $85.7 million is appropriated for 9th District projects funded in the final capital budget, including these local projects:

  • Pullman Airport Utility Extension – $1.626 million
  • Asotin Masonic Lodge – $62,000
  • Colfax Pantry Building – $247,000
  • Garfield County Hospital HVAC system, Pomeroy – $250,000
  • Washtucna Historical Museum and Community Center roof replacement – $24,000
  • Othello regional water project – $425,000
  • Pomeroy booster pumping station – $96,000
  • Prairie View Schoolhouse Community Center, Waverly – $112,000
  • Ritzville Business and Entrepreneurship Center – $350,000
  • Rosalia sewer improvements – $500,000
  • Lions Park infields and restroom renovation in Othello – $347,000

The capital budget’s Library Capital Improvement Program provides $923,000 for the Asotin County Library Building Phase II project.

The capital budget also funds several projects at Washington State University, including $36.4 million for its Global Animal Health Building, $700,000 for improvements to facilities related to animal care, $800,000 to replace the Dairy Heifer Barn, and around $20 million for more than a dozen infrastructure or minor works projects on the Pullman campus. 

The budget provides $1.75 million for the Student Activity Center project at Walla Walla Community College’s Clarkston campus.

A request by Schoesler and 13th District Sen. Judy Warnick, R-Moses Lake, for funding for the North I-90 Odessa Aquifer Groundwater Replacement Project was successful, as the final capital budget provides $15 million for it.

The Othello Aquifer Storage and Recharge project receives $500,000 through the Columbia River Water Supply Development Program.