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Walsh and Grant support
growers' effort to get products to market
16th District lawmakers excited about rail project
for region
The state Senate and House are ironing out a
plan for funding that would help pave the way for a new Wallula
distribution center to give Washington growers direct services to East
Coast markets. The funding would be used by the Port of Walla Walla to
buy land, provide water service, and build a road and rail loop.
Rep. Maureen Walsh, R-College Place, and Bill Grant, D-Walla
Walla, are working to help secure the necessary state funding and
believe it would not only be a boon for the region, but the whole state.
“The Railex project will be great for our region but also for all of
Washington. Farmers will be able to get their products to the East Coast
in less than six days,” said Walsh. “This is a private-public
partnership that offers agricultural producers an additional venue in
which to market their goods. Anything we can do to boost agriculture in
our state, I'm there!”
The project, directed by the Port of Walla Walla, has already received
over $3 million in public grants and loans. A total of $3.5 million is
being requested from the state to move the project forward, with both
the state Senate and House working towards that final number.
“I am pretty confident we will get there,” said Grant. “The House has
already approved it, and the Senate is looking at it now. For years, our
farmers have looked for a way to get products to the East Coast market
faster and cheaper – this proposal will do that, plus create nearly 159
warehouse jobs.”
“It was nice to see enthusiasm for this project from our House
Transportation and Economic Development, Agriculture and Trade
committees. Their sentiment is the direct result of the hard-working
folks at the local level who have conveyed the importance of the
project,” said Walsh. “We’re happy this is moving forward in a
supplemental budget year when adjustments to our various state budgets
are usually pretty minor.”
The legislative session is scheduled to end March 9 after 60 days.
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For more information, contact:
Sarah Lamb, Public Information
Officer - (360) 786-7720
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