By Pepper Fisher
PORT ANGELES – 6th District Congressman Derek Kilmer appeared on the Todd Ortloff Show Thursday to report some very good news about his success securing new federal funding for multiple programs and projects in our region.
Kilmer, who serves on the House Appropriations Committee, took full advantage of new guidelines that allow each representative to request funding for up to 10 projects in their community for fiscal year 2022. In fact, he’s batting 1,000.
“Well, here’s what was cool. The rules basically say, I can make 10 requests on behalf of our region, and I hit for the cycle. I got all 10 requests. And some of that’s because I’m on the Appropriations Committee, which helps. Well to some degree, the community put forward its case, and I was just basically the messenger in Washington, D.C. to say, hey, this has merit, this is going to make a difference for our community.”
Kilmer got money for affordable housing, flood plain issues, and educational programs throughout the 6th District. Notably, here in Clallam County, he secured $900,000 to support the Port Angeles Food Bank’s Nourish to Flourish expansion, which is intended to allow them to finalize the purchase of their building.
“You know, this was something that got amazing support from the County Commissioners, from the local business community. Even KONP was one of the letters in support of funding for the food bank, and I’m excited that we were able to get this done.”
The House also awarded $450,000 to support the West Sound STEM Network’s “Empowering the Peninsula” project, which aims to increase equity in Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics programming on the Olympic Peninsula.
“That’s a really cool project. I’m excited about it. We have seen amazing success in Kitsap County West Sound STEM Network. One of the projects that we were able to secure funds for was for them to extend that work onto the Olympic Peninsula, so that they can actually set up an office and do programming and provide those sorts of partnership opportunities with schools in Port Angeles and Port Townsend, up and down the peninsula.”
Kilmer was also able to secure about $4 million for 3 tribal relocation and infrastructure efforts that will benefit the Hoh Tribe, Quileute Tribe, and the Quinault Nation.
Photo: Rep. Kilmer tours the Port Angeles Food Bank with Director Emily Dexter.