By: Jacob Dimond
Local jurisdictions Yelm, Tenino, Roy, Olympia and Thurston County to receive federal money
Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland, WA-10, announced on Thursday, Feb. 5, that 12 jurisdictions throughout the South Puget Sound will receive federal funding for projects that support agricultural communities, improve local pedestrian and safety traffic, boost clean water access, purchase fire engines and more.
A total of $8,165,000 was secured and will be allocated to the 12 jurisdictions at different monetary values.
Locally, the City of Yelm, City of Tenino, City of Roy, City of Olympia and Thurston County will each receive an allocated amount of funding from the $8 million pool secured by Strickland.
“Despite the challenges we face with the republican majority in Congress, I am pleased to secure funding for these essential community projects in our district,” Strickland said, in a media release. “They will boost the local economy, and make the South Sound a cleaner, safer, and more affordable place to live and work.”
Yelm
The City of Yelm originally requested $2 million in federal funding for its Downtown Business Revitalization Strategy and will receive $1 million for the project. According to a description of the project, it will improve key streets in Yelm’s historic core, including sidewalk construction, adding street lighting, pedestrian crossings, traffic calming and right-of-way acquisition to support safer and more accessible streets.
Tenino
The City of Tenino originally requested $2,250,000 for its Regional Meat Processing Infrastructure and will receive a total of $850,000 for the project. According to a description of the project, the funding would be used for regional-scale meat processing infrastructure in the central and south Puget Sound region — aiming to create a local meat supply chain to provide reliable processing equipment to local producers.
Roy
The City of Roy originally requested $700,000 for its Water Infrastructure Project and will receive its requested amount. According to a description of the project, the funding will be used to increase access to clean drinking water through a new water tower, water reservoir, water filtration and relocation of a water well.
Thurston County
Thurston County originally requested $4 million for emergency evacuation and an agricultural center at the Thurston County Fairgrounds, and will receive a total of $1,015,000 for the project. According to a project description, the funding would be used to butler rural resilience and agricultural emergency preparedness in Washington state — particularly for livestock owners in the “ranching-centric” Thurston County.
Olympia
The City of Olympia originally requested $986,000 for its Armory Redevelopment Project, and will receive a total of $250,000 for the project. According to a project description, the funding will be used to support the acquisition and installation of an elevator as part of the “critical first phase” of the Olympia Armory construction.
Around the Sound
Throughout the Puget Sound, several other jurisdictions will also receive an allocation of funding from the $8 million secured by Strickland. The City of Edgewood will use the funding it receives for Phase III of its Interurban Trail — which would support the construction of a mile-long segment to the trail.
The City of Fircrest will also receive funding for its Emerson Street to Rosewood Lane project. The funding will be used to enhance connectivity between existing sidewalks of Emerson Street and Rosewood Lane.
The City of Puyallup will receive funds for its Meeker Street Improvement Project. The project would create several safety components and upgrades on East Meeker Street between Meridian and 3rd Street Southeast — including a new ADA detectable warning plate, new curbs, wider sidewalks and more.
The City of Tacoma will receive funding to replace fire engines. According to a project description, the funding would be used to purchase two new pumper engines for Fire Station 11 — enhancing the department’s ability to combat a substantial amount of wildland fires, annually.
The City of University Place will receive funding for improvements to Chambers Bay access. According to a project description, the funding will be used to finalize improvements in safety, traffic capacity and regional access in the Chambers Bay area.
Tacoma Housing Authority will receive funding for Phase One of its Salishan-Hillside project. A project description states the funding will be used to rehabilitate housing by modernizing core systems like HVAC, electrical and plumbing.
Pierce County Transit will receive funding for its system-wide ADA signage improvement project. The funding will be used to increase ADA accessibility within transportation service areas by implementing braille/tactile signs to serve individuals who are blind, deaf-blind or low vision.
Learn more about each of the 12 CPF projects and other Strickland priorities that were included in the FY26 Congress-passed appropriations package here.
Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland (WA-10) serves on the House Armed Services Committee and the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. She is Whip of the New Democrat Coalition, Secretary of the Congressional Black Caucus, and is one of the first Korean-American women elected to Congress.