Stimulus: Agencies to begin checking off wishlists (w/Mid-Columbia stimulus map)

By the Herald staff

The $1.9 billion coming to Hanford under the federal economic stimulus legislation is not the only federal money that will begin pouring into the Mid-Columbia's economy.

View Tri-City stimulus dollars in a larger map

Other projects funded by either stimulus legislation or the omnibus federal spending bill are adding at least another $276 million for area agencies to use for a wide variety of purposes.

-- The Bonneville Power Administration plans to start a $246 million project building the McNary-John Day high-voltage transmission line, which would run through southern Benton County, this spring. Construction is expected to create about 700 jobs at its peak.

-- The Tri-Cities Airport will get $8.7 million to complete the terminal apron project and improve the runway. Both projects will start in June and be finished this summer.

-- Benton and Franklin counties received about $5.3 million in federal stimulus money for 11 transportation projects. Those include: Richland, $1.6 million to overhaul First Street in the Tri-Cities Research District near Washington State University Tri-Cities; Benton County, $1.2 million for the Webber Canyon Road project; Franklin County, $750,000 to reroute a section of Road 170 that was buried by a landslide in 2006; Pasco, $750,000 to pave Powerline Road between Road 68 and Broadmoor Boulevard; Prosser, $500,000 to overhaul Sheridan Avenue; Port of Pasco, $220,000 to extend rail service several thousand feet into the Big Pasco Industrial Center; Benton City, $207,000 for sidewalks along a portion of Seventh Street; Kennewick, $140,000 for sidewalks and landscaping along the north side of Canal Street between Volland and Neel streets.

-- Ben Franklin Transit would receive almost $8.48 million to expand and remodel its headquarters in Richland.

-- National Guard armories in Pasco and Walla Walla will receive $575,000 in economic stimulus money to replace windows. The Pasco Armory will receive $125,000, and the Walla Walla Armory will receive $450,000.

-- The Benton Franklin Workforce Development Council will get $884,221 to expand an existing program from 50 youths to 150. The program trains young people in interview, communication and interpersonal skills, then puts them to work on a job site.

-- Community Health Center La Clinica in Pasco will receive $408,662 to expand services. Moses Lake Community Health Center will receive $358,968, while Columbia Basin Health Association in Othello is to receive $373,217. Other clinics receiving money included Community Health of Central Washington in Yakima, $119,221; and Yakima Neighborhood Health Services, $289,374.

-- The Housing Authority of the city of Pasco and Franklin County will get about $632,000 to help repair an elevator, while the Kennewick Housing Authority was approved for about $376,000 to help install new exterior siding at its Sunnyslope Homes development at 1915 W. Fourth Place.

-- The Jonathan M. Wainwright VA Medical Center in Walla Walla will receive $3.1 million in stimulus funding to pay for improvements and create jobs providing for veterans.

-- Tri-City law enforcement agencies plan to use nearly $385,000 in federal stimulus money for a variety of needs from computer upgrades to new weapons. Kennewick Police Department is receiving $169,156; the Pasco Police Department is getting $92,164; Richland Police Department is receiving $73,595; Benton County Sheriff's Office is getting $39,175; and Franklin County Sheriff's Office will get $10,417.

While separate from the stimulus legislation, the $410 billion omnibus federal spending bill included another $4.13 million for Mid-Columbia projects. Included were:

-- Kadlec Medical Center would get $809,000 to expand services for children, including an expanded neonatal intensive care unit.

-- The Port of Benton's demonstration project to turn agriculture waste into thermal and electrical energy would receive $951,000 to help build and maintain a facility to turn plant waste into pellets to be gasified to produce energy.

-- Steptoe Street, on the border between Kennewick and south Richland, would be extended using $2.185 million. The street is planned to run between 10th Avenue and Gage Boulevard to provide a connection between Interstate 82 and Highway 240.

-- Work to design a public access road to Hanford's historic B Reactor would begin with $190,000.

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Monday, Apr. 13, 2009

Stimulus: Agencies to begin checking off wishlists (w/Mid-Columbia stimulus map)

By the Herald staff