Dear neighbors,

I am excited to share with you that the Senate’s proposed state capital construction budget this year funds a number of outstanding projects around our district that will increase affordable housing, revitalize the waterfront, improve the environment, build community, and more. The budget just passed the Senate unanimously this morning. The Senate budget proposal still needs to go through negotiations with the House, but the generous proposed funding for so many projects in our communities bodes well for the final outcome.

Read more below about several of those projects.

Thank you to everyone who came out to the town hall that Rep. Orwall, Rep. Gregerson and I held last weekend at the LiUNA Labor Hall. We had a wonderful turnout and lots of great questions and discussion. It was fantastic to see so many neighbors in person again!

Highlights for the 33rd District from the Senate’s proposed capital construction budget

Building affordable housing and building community

  • $4 million for affordable housing at the African Diaspora Cultural Anchor Village in SeaTac.
  • $550,000 for predesign for affordable housing at the Multicultural Village in Kent.
  • $515,000 for the Refugee Welcoming & Healing Center in SeaTac, to serve as a hub for services, employment programs, and cultural events.

Revitalizing the waterfront

  • $1 million to build the Marina Steps in Des Moines to connect the marina to downtown and spur economic growth and recreation.
  • $1 million to begin work replacing the Redondo Pier in Des Moines so that it will once again become a major regional draw for locals and tourists.
  • $450,000 to restore the natural shoreline in Saltwater State Park.

Expanding early learning opportunities

  • $809,000 for early learning facilities in the Highline School District.

Safeguarding our environment

  • $340,000 for ultrafine particle monitoring in SeaTac. This will help us collect the data so that we can reduce exposure to ultrafine particle pollution released by airplanes on takeoff and landing.

Improving law enforcement training

  • $856,000 for improvements to the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Center in Burien.

Highlight of the week: Building for the Arts

Each week this session, I’ll highlight a resource that may be of use to you, your family, or your neighbors. I hope you’ll pass the information along to anyone who may be able to take advantage of it. This week, I want to let you know about the state’s Building for the Arts program.

Building for the Arts was created by the Legislature in 1991 to award grants to performing arts, art museum, and cultural organizations. The program awards grants for up to one-third of project costs to buy, build, or renovate arts and cultural facilities. Arts and cultural organizations can learn more about applying here.  Our district has many small musical and theatrical companies that might benefit by looking at applying for one of the ranked Building for the Arts grants in the next capital budget.

ArtsWA oversees several other grants to nurture and grow the arts in our state, and you can find information about those here.

Previous highlights of the week: Dementia Road Map for Caregivers, Paid Family and Medical Leave, Healthy Starts Act pregnancy accommodations, Working Families Tax Credit, Washington State Quitline, my resource guide, WorkSource WA, ArrayRx Discount Card.

Stay in Touch

If you’d like to follow what I’m working on, you can like my official legislative Facebook page here.

Please don’t hesitate to stay in touch. Stay safe and take care.

Always,

Sen. Keiser signature

Sen. Karen Keiser
Senate President Pro Tempore
Chair, Senate Labor & Commerce Committee