Perez seeking federal dollars for Ilwaco, Raymond projects

Published 12:13 pm Monday, May 27, 2024

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez announced last week that she is requesting millions of dollars to help fund community projects on each end of Pacific County as part of the 2025 federal budget.

Perez (D-Skamania) is seeking a total of $35.7 million to support 15 projects throughout the Third Congressional District in Southwest Washington, including $2.5 million for projects in Ilwaco and Raymond. Funding is being sought through the Congressionally Directed Spending process, more commonly referred to as earmarks.

“Across Southwest Washington, I’ve heard from community members and local leaders about much-needed projects that have the potential to transform our rural economies, support public health and safety, and get resources to those who need them most,” Perez said in a statement announcing her requests. “In the coming months, I’m going to fight to bring our tax dollars home for these investments and work to ensure they have the greatest impact in our communities.”

As part of the 2024 federal budget that was passed and signed into law earlier this year, Perez helped secure $21 million for 15 projects throughout the district — including $960,000 for Long Beach to replace its sewer main on Oregon Avenue and $1.05 million for the Port of Willapa Harbor to help purchase and repair a marine-haul service facility, South Bend Boat, that closed in 2019.

Ilwaco intake system

This time around, Perez has submitted a request for $1.5 million for the City of Ilwaco to implement a floating intake system in its reservoir at the Indian Creek Dam. Floating intakes allow water to be drawn from closer to the surface, which normally contains less debris and contaminants than at the bottom.

The intake system, the congresswoman wrote in her funding request to the U.S. House Appropriations Committee, would allow the city to draw water from the ideal depth and thus stabilize the acidity of the water and minimize levels of iron and manganese.

“This project is a good use of taxpayer funds because these updates will enable the city to reduce their treatment cost, lowering cost to its inhabitants,” Perez said. “By optimizing water quality, reducing chemical usage, and conserving water, investing in a floating intake system aligns with their commitment to environmental stewardship and cost-effective resource management, securing reliable water access and ensuring a sustainable water supply for the community’s current and future needs.”

The funding request received letters of support from the City of Long Beach, Port of Ilwaco, Pacific County Economic Development Council and Gray & Osborne, the engineering firm Ilwaco contracts with. Gray & Osborne said the dam is subject to stratification of the water column, which contains areas of minimal dissolved oxygen in the lower levels of the water column that create conditions leading to higher levels of iron and manganese.

“By enabling the withdrawal of water from the upper portions of the water column with higher dissolved oxygen levels, this solution mitigates the underlying factors contributing to iron and manganese issues within the reservoir,” an engineer for Gray & Osborne stated. “This project will lead to immediate improvements in water quality and will yield long-term benefits for human consumption. The need for chemical and mechanical treatment of iron and manganese would be reduced with this project.”

Veterans housing in Raymond

Perez also submitted a $1 million request for a project in Raymond to provide affordable housing and a resource center for veterans. The project is being undertaken by the Willapa Community Development Association (WCDA) in partnership with American Legion Post 150.

The funds, if awarded, would go toward the demolition and reconstruction of the American Legion building in downtown Raymond. The project, which is expected to support 17 housing units prioritizing veterans as well as community resources once built, has received nearly $10 million from a variety of funding sources in recent years.

According to Perez’s letter to the House Appropriations Committee, four of the units will be for formerly homeless households earning less than 30% of the area’s median income (AMI), while the remaining units will be for households earning up to 60% of the AMI.

“The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because it addresses three important community needs: housing, access to social services and economic development,” Perez stated.

The funding request received 16 letters of support from municipalities, government agencies and local organizations. Those that voiced their support for the request included the City of Raymond, Joint Pacific County Housing Authority, Willapa Harbor Chamber of Commerce, Pacific County Health and Human Services, Housing Opportunities of SW Washington, Willapa Harbor Hospital, Pacific County Voices Uniting, and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

Raymond Mayor Dee Roberts stated that the city “is in desperate need of this type of housing” as well as services the project would provide.

“Veterans will be the priority, but others in need will also be served,” Roberts said. “Similar residential apartments in our community often have waiting lists of several hundred people. Investments in housing and other downtown infrastructure have lagged for many decades, leaving our community with a severe housing shortage as well a shortage of commercial space.”

Late last year, the congresswoman’s office also helped the WCDA and American Legion secure notice that their UEI number had been registered after several previous unsuccessful attempts. Having a UEI number identifies an entity as being eligible for federal grants, awards and contracts.