Kilmer Secures Millions in New Federal Funding for Mason County
Community Project Funding Will Support Road Safety, Water Infrastructure
MASON COUNTY, WA – Today, U.S. Representative Derek Kilmer (WA-06), a member of the House Appropriations Committee, announced that he secured more than $2.7 million in new federal funding to support community projects in Mason County. The funding was passed with bipartisan support in the House and the Senate and signed into law by President Biden. The funding includes:
- $850,000 for the Squaxin Island Tribe’s State Route 108 Highway Safety Project
- $959,757 million for the Port of Shelton’s Sewer Extension Project
- $959,757 for the Skokomish Tribe’s Waterline Extension project
Squaxin Island Tribe’s State Route 108 Highway Safety Project
The Squaxin Island Tribe (SIT) will receive $850,000 in funding for the SR 108/Old Olympic Highway Safety Project, which aims to improve pedestrian and motorist safety in the Squaxin commercial district. The project, which is based on recommendations from the 2019 Strategic Transportation Safety (STS) Plan, includes designing and constructing two compact roundabouts and upgrading pedestrian pathways.
This safety project not only aims to prevent costly injury and fatality crashes but also aims to address inadequate pedestrian connectivity. By enhancing safety and well-being in the community and surrounding areas, the project supports future development and job creation, contributing to a strong and economically self-sufficient tribal community.
“Supporting the Squaxin Island Tribe’s SR 108 Highway Safety Project is a critical step towards enhancing pedestrian and motorist safety in the area,” said Rep. Kilmer. “By prioritizing safety and connectivity, this project not only aims to prevent accidents but also to foster future development and job creation, strengthening the economic foundation of the Squaxin community.”
“As the largest employer in Mason County we attract a lot of traffic,” said Kris Peters, Chairman, Squaxin Island Tribe. “This funding will increase necessary infrastructure for traffic and pedestrian safety. We appreciate Congressman Kilmer’s leadership.”
Port of Shelton’s Sewer Extension Project
The Port of Shelton will receive $959,757 for its Sewer Extension Project, which aims to extend public sanitary sewer service to areas of the Shelton Urban Growth Area to serve undeveloped properties, existing developments with failing septic systems, and provide additional capacity to the Port of Shelton for its Sanderson Field Industrial Complex. The project will help address public health and environmental concerns by decommissioning failing community septic tanks and drain field systems in nearby low-income mobile home parks.
This extension aims not only to improve public health and the environment but also foster economic growth and job creation in Mason County. The project will provide critical infrastructure to support the development of industrial and commercial properties in the area, making Mason County more competitive for large-scale industry and investment. As a result, the project has the potential to support between 2,000 and 4,000 jobs, benefiting the local community and boosting the state economy.
“This is all about jobs. The Port of Shelton Sewer Extension Project, with a nearly $1 million investment to extend vital sewer lines, is a key initiative for enhancing Mason County’s public health, environmental sustainability, and economic prospects,” said Rep. Kilmer. “By addressing the urgent need for infrastructure improvement and decommissioning outdated septic systems, this project promises to unlock the potential for significant job growth, supporting jobs, and stimulating industrial and commercial development. And having the federal government provide support means that the costs of this project won’t solely be borne by taxpayers in Mason County. That’s a win for Mason County’s taxpayers and for our community’s future.”
“The opportunity to partner with the Port of Shelton to expand critical infrastructure in the form of municipal sewer capacity promoting job growth and creation for the Shelton community is exciting,” said Mark Ziegler, Interim City Manager, Shelton. “This project will not only provide for added capacity at the Port’s Sanderson Field but provide for the utility to serve areas that have failing or underperforming septic systems posing environmental threats. The support of Representative Kilmer through the Community Project Funding program is significant to Shelton’s ability to create living-wage jobs and a healthy community.”
“This project is a big win for Mason County as it will allow for additional sewer capacity to meet and appropriately respond to the inquiries for large manufacturing facilities hoping to locate in the area with large demands for their wastewater,” said Wendy Smith, Executive Director, Port of Shelton. “This key piece of infrastructure will assist in new job growth and millions of dollars in capital investment that will benefit the entire community while also allowing failing systems to connect for the health of our environment.”
“Good infrastructure is crucial for our economy to thrive. We appreciate leaders like Congressman Kilmer who recognize the significance of these projects, especially in rural communities,” said Joe Schmit, Chair, Mason County Economic Development Council. “Such projects benefit the whole community when they are completed. Together, on a local and regional level, we can ensure growth is equitable and supports our local businesses. The Port of Shelton is key to Mason County's economic success, actively seeking to attract aerospace industries and invigorate Sanderson Field. Up-to-date infrastructure is essential for these goals. The financial backing obtained for expanding the Shelton wastewater and reclamation facility marks a major leap forward, aiding the Port's development and business appeal. This leads to job creation and a lasting, prosperous future for Mason County.”
Skokomish Tribe’s Waterline Extension project
The Skokomish Tribe will receive $959,757 for the Waterline Extension project to extend a water line from an underutilized well system to enhance potable water availability and fire flow capacity for approximately 135 homes, schools, a casino, tribal police, and government buildings. The project will address critical deficiencies in the existing community water system serving the Reservation, as identified by a 2016 technical report by the Indian Health Services (IHS). The report highlighted several issues, including inadequate water pressure, outdated pump equipment, a lack of backup power, insufficient fire flow capacity, and no room for future expansion.
“With this federal investment, we’re not just extending a waterline – we’re nurturing the foundations of health, safety, and prosperity for the Skokomish Tribe,” said Rep. Kilmer. “The Skokomish waterline extension project will address ongoing problems in the Tribe’s water system, improving the availability of potable water and fire flow capacity for homes, schools, and other facilities to ensure a resilient and thriving future for the folks who live here.”
“The impacts of this project will be broad and deep within our community,” said Tom Strong, Chief Executive Officer, Skokomish Tribe. “This much-needed project will provide for fire suppression flows which are not currently available on our Reservation. Additionally, this added capacity ensures that our tribe, and those community members which are customers of our water system, will have clean, potable water in the future when impacts from climate change and drought conditions are likely to be much worse.”
“This project is going to have a huge impact on the people that it is intended to help,” said Matt Welander, Fire Chief, West Mason Fire. “Providing for adequate fire flow for the people of the Skokomish Tribe and helping them work towards being a model of proactive fire protection will be a point of pride for anyone who has had a hand in the design, funding, and implementation of this project. As the Fire Chief for the area, I am ecstatic about the possibility of this work. I would like to personally thank Representative Kilmer for his support of the Skokomish Tribe.”
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