Mayor Jerry Smith, Mayor Pro Tem Laura Sonmore and City Manager Arlene Fisher recently met with Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell, Congressman Rick Larsen, Congressman Dave Reichert and representatives from the offices of Governor Jay Inslee and others in Washington D.C.
The main purpose of the meetings was to update the City’s legislators on funding needs for the revitalization of the downtown corridor.
The City communicated its need to develop the infrastructure necessary to implement its vision for a revitalized downtown with the Main Street Revitalization Project. It is estimated that this investment of city, state and federal dollars would leverage millions in private investment to create jobs and opportunities in the downtown and move the community forward.
The City of Mountlake Terrace has competed for funds within the TIGER program for its Main Street project and has scored exceptionally well on the economic cost basis models, but has failed to win an award due to the strong competition and relative size of the other projects from larger agencies. TIGER, which stands for Transportation Investments Generating Economic Recovery, was the result of efforts initiated by Murray several years ago.
Larsen recently introduced a new version of the “TIGER CUBS” bill, federal legislation that would set aside 20 percent of special transportation infrastructure funding for smaller to medium-sized cities. The bill would ensure that cities such as Mountlake Terrace could compete for critical transportation infrastructure funding for projects like Main Street.
The Washington, D.C. meeting was a follow up step to a meeting called by Cantwell last October where regional agencies met in Mountlake Terrace to discuss funding opportunities for the Main Street Revitalization Project.
The city also supports a state transportation revenue package that includes either an appropriation for the Main Street project or grant funds for which the city could compete.
More information on the city’s Funding Requests is available at www.cityofmlt.com under City Services/City Council.
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