HERMISTON – More than $11 million in federal funding is
\ncoming for six projects in Umatilla and Morrow counties, including $1.7 million
\nto address drinking water contamination of private wells.<\/p>\n
Morrow County Commissioner Melissa Lindsay said that will be
\na boon.<\/p>\n
“This new source of significant funding will allow
\nMorrow and Umatilla counties to develop and implement a standardized well
\ntesting program for domestic wells,” she said, “as well as develop a
\nfeasibility plan for permanent solutions such as a public drinking water
\nsystem.”<\/p>\n
She added the bi-county partnership will enhance other work
\nwithin the Lower Umatilla Basin Groundwater Management Area.<\/p>\n
Oregon’s U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley announced the
\n$11 million in allocations Thursday, Dec. 22. The money is from the $1.7
\ntrillion omnibus spending package, for fiscal year 2023, which President Joe
\nBiden signed Dec. 23. The lion’s share for Eastern Oregon projects is to
\nfurther develop the 7,500 acres the Oregon Military Department has on the
\nformer Umatilla Chemical Depot in both counties.<\/p>\n
The National Defense Authorization Act approved a community
\nproject at the Rees Training Center, formerly Camp Umatilla, near Hermiston,
\nTodd Farmer, Oregon Military Department installations division director
\nsaid.” to “The National Defense Authorization Act approved a
\ncommunity project at the Rees Training Center, formerly Camp Umatilla, near
\nHermiston, said Todd Farmer, Oregon Military Department installations division
\ndirector.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s the largest amount among 22 Eastern Oregon projects
\nreceiving the federal allocation.<\/p>\n
Housing students and cadre is an Army requirement to enhance
\nthe capabilities and accreditation of the institute. This project is scheduled
\nto break ground in early 2023 and could wrap up in 2024. The new housing,
\nadjacent to the schoolhouse, is to provide up to 60 beds for students when
\ninfantry school is in session. When no classes are scheduled, the housing is
\navailable to service members and can be used to support emergency response
\nefforts in the region.<\/p>\n
Two projects in the Pendleton area are receiving funding.<\/p>\n
The larger of the two is $1.5 million to Pendleton to help
\nbuild the road to connect Highway 11 with Highway 30 for future housing
\ndevelopment.<\/p>\n
“We\u2019ve been working with our Washington, D.C.,
\nconsultant for the last year-and-a-half to get allocation for projects,”
\nPendleton Public Works Director Bob Patterson said. “The (11\/30) project
\nrose to the list because it helps fill the need for workforce housing. We\u2019re
\nopening the area for a lot more homes.”<\/p>\n
Patterson said the whole $1.5 million allocation is for road
\ndevelopment.<\/p>\n
“Our consultant now estimates it could cost $10 million
\nto build the road connecting Highway 11 with Highway 30,” he said.
\n“We plan on using the money to build a specific phase of the connectivity.
\nThe funds should pay the cost of a portion of the road.”<\/p>\n
Patterson said it could take nine to 12 months for the funds
\nto become available from Congress\u2019 omnibus bill.<\/p>\n
“In that time, we can do the design and environmental
\nimpact studies,” he said. “When released, the funding can go
\ncompletely to construction.”<\/p>\n
The other project is $700,000 for facility improvements at
\nOregon State University\u2019s Columbia Basin Agricultural Research Center near
\nAdams.<\/p>\n
The Business Opportunity Incubator in Irrigon is getting an
\neven $1 million.<\/p>\n
“The city of Irrigon\u2019s Business Incubator Opportunity
\nwill provide much needed and desired facilities for start-up business
\nadventures,” City Manager Aaron Palmquist said. “Small business
\nvenues are the backbone for the American economy.”<\/p>\n
And Morrow County is getting $177,000 for its Primary Emergency
\nOperations Center Generator Project.<\/p>\n
Morrow County Emergency Manager Paul Gray said this is the
\nsecond part of a generator project to make sure the county\u2019s emergency
\noperations centers have power when they need it most.<\/p>\n
“So the first part was securing funds for the county
\ngovernment building up in Irrigon, which we did receive,” he said.
\n“We haven\u2019t gotten the generator up there yet, but with this funding
\ncoming through that will basically supply power to both of our EOCs on the
\nnorthern and southern ends of the county.”<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
According to Wyden and Merkley, 145 Oregon communities will
\nreceive funding for critical projects, all of varying totals.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
HERMISTON – More than $11 million in federal funding is coming for six projects in Umatilla and Morrow counties, including $1.7 million to address drinking water contamination of private wells. Morrow County Commissioner Melissa Lindsay said that will be a boon. “This new source of significant funding will allow Morrow and Umatilla counties to develop […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[26],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1803","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-in-the-news"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n