Rep. Dan Newhouse led a bipartisan letter on May 4 to Secretary Sean Duffy at the Department of Transportation in support of Douglas County’s application for a $21 million Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) grant for the Wenatchi Landing Interchange Project.
The request aims to secure federal funding that would improve transportation infrastructure, boost economic growth, and enhance safety in central Washington. The letter was signed by several members of Washington’s congressional delegation, including Reps. Michael Baumgartner, Kim Schrier, Marilyn Strickland, Rick Larsen, Suzan DelBene, Adam Smith, and Senators Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray.
“As members of the Washington congressional delegation, we are writing to express our strong support for Douglas County’s $21,000,000 Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) grant application for the Wenatchi Landing Interchange Project,” said the signatories in their letter. They noted that Douglas County is located in central Washington with a population that has grown by 70 percent since 2000 and highlighted agriculture as its top employer.
The project is expected to create about 7,500 jobs and generate an economic impact between $586 million and $1.3 billion through mixed-use development opportunities such as hospitality venues, high-density housing, office space, light industrial enterprises and commercial recreation facilities. The proposal also focuses on improving critical safety elements at a key transportation nexus over the Columbia River.
Newhouse has represented Washington’s 4th district in Congress since replacing Doc Hastings in 2015 according to his official biography. He previously served in the Washington House of Representatives from 2003 to 2009 as reported by Vote Smart. Born in Sunnyside in 1955 and currently residing there at age 67 according to his House profile, Newhouse graduated from Washington State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1977 as noted by WSU notable alumni records.
In their conclusion addressed to Secretary Duffy: “We urge you to fund the Wenatchi Landing Interchange project through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s BUILD grant program to provide critical funding for this project that will improve safety, connectivity, and mobility to this growing rural area.” The delegation emphasized that such investment would support economic prosperity while addressing challenges associated with regional development.
