Senator Ranker Updates Capital Projects

— from the office of State Senator Kevin Ranker —

I wanted to provide you with one last brief update regarding the incredible projects and the hundreds of jobs that will be created in Skagit, Whatcom and San Juan Counties with the passage of the Capital Budget tonight.

All told, $107 million will be invested in projects throughout our community over the next two years creating tens of thousands of jobs. We can all be proud and excited of what this will mean for our local economy.

I worked tirelessly in the Senate and in coordination with my seatmates in the House to make sure that key projects were included.  I am pleased to share this evening that we were successful and many of our communities’ key priorities were included.

I am extremely pleased to announce we have finally secured the full funding for renovation of the Carver Educational Facility at Western Washington University.  This building has thousands of students and community members pass through it daily.  From classes to athletic programs to numerous high school assemblies, this building is one of the more heavily used in Whatcom County.  Unfortunately, it is run down and does not meet even the most basic earthquake requirements. Simply put, it is not safe and is in desperate need of a total redevelopment. With the passage of this budget, our students and community members will soon have a new, safe place to learn, celebrate and recreate. This has been a top priority for decades and I am honored to have helped finally make this happen.

Other important projects were funded throughout the district. From $1.4 Million for the Orcas Island Library expansion, to $2 million for Blanchard Forest to $1.5 million for the City of Mount Vernon Downtown Flood Protection and Trail.

We also funded some absolutely critical projects of statewide significance. We invested $200 million in classroom construction, $33 million for mental health evaluations and clinics, $33 million in housing investments and $40 million in clean energy projects.

Most important however, is language that I was able to secure that will apply not only to this budget, but also the full transportation and operating budgets.  The language strengthens our anti-discrimination laws by clarifying that every single contractor that works with our state and receives taxpayer dollars must also obey our anti-discrimination and equal pay laws. Earlier this session I was alerted to a loophole in our laws. With the insertion of this paragraph, that loophole is now closed.

It is a good day to be a Washingtonian.

(For a list of the capital projects funded, click here

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