Rep. Larsen to tour April’s Grove, Prune Alley, visit Orcas Island Senior Center

Friday, August 23

— from Rep. Rick Larsen’s office —

On Friday, August 23, Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02) will tour April’s Grove with OPAL Community Land Trust staff to learn how federal funding is being used to construct affordable housing in San Juan County. OPAL Community Land Trust relies on a mix of federal funding, loans and tax incentives to help construct affordable housing projects like April’s Grove, a new 45-unit affordable rental development.

According to the 2015 Washington State Housing Needs Assessment, more than 50 percent of San Juan County renters are unable to afford the fair market rent of a two-bedroom apartment. Last summer, Larsen held a roundtable in Friday Harbor to discuss affordable housing issues facing San Juan County. Larsen is a cosponsor of bipartisan legislation to strengthen Low-Income Housing Tax Credits which are being used to cover a portion of April Grove’s construction costs.

Larsen will then meet with staff at the Orcas Island Senior Center to learn more about the center’s congregate lunch and Meals on Wheels programs. Larsen will then eat lunch with seniors and help clean up after the meal. Food for the meal program is funded in part through the Older Americans Act. Larsen is a strong supporter of increasing federal funding for senior nutrition programs like Meals on Wheels that allow Washington’s seniors to live independently and remain engaged in their communities.

Larsen will also meet with San Juan County public works staff, elected officials and local business owners to receive an update on the Prune Alley Road improvement project. The Prune Alley project is focused on upgrading the mobility and walkability of one of Eastsound’s major roads. Larsen is a strong supporter of federal Community Development Block Grants which help rural cities and counties like San Juan County sustain and build local infrastructure projects and put people to work.