WA Awards $4.9M for Water, Sewer & Road Infrastructure Planning
- Olympia, Washington – The Washington State Public Works Board (PWB) has allocated $4.9 million to eight pre-construction projects across the state, targeting improvements to drinking water, wastewater, and...
- The PWB awards are designed to fund the crucial planning and design phases of infrastructure projects, a step often overlooked but vital for successful implementation.
- Six of the eight awarded jurisdictions qualify for a portion of their funding as a grant, reflecting the economic challenges faced by these communities.
Olympia, Washington – The Washington State Public Works Board (PWB) has allocated $4.9 million to eight pre-construction projects across the state, targeting improvements to drinking water, wastewater, and road infrastructure. The funding, announced on , will support communities in Chelan, Grays Harbor, Kittitas, Skagit, Spokane, and Yakima counties, with a significant portion directed towards economically distressed areas.
The PWB awards are designed to fund the crucial planning and design phases of infrastructure projects, a step often overlooked but vital for successful implementation. According to PWB Chair Vince McGowan, PE, “We’ve all stopped for a flagger on a construction project but most of us haven’t stopped to think about the careful planning and design that leads to a successful project. PWB pre-construction funding helps communities plan ahead. Thoughtful planning leads to better outcomes for projects and more benefits to the community.” This proactive approach aims to ensure projects are “shovel-ready” when construction funds become available, accelerating delivery and potentially reducing long-term costs.
Six of the eight awarded jurisdictions qualify for a portion of their funding as a grant, reflecting the economic challenges faced by these communities. This financial assistance is particularly important for smaller and rural areas that often struggle to meet environmental standards and maintain reliable public services without state-level support. The PWB acts as a critical resource, offering loans, grants, and technical assistance to local governments.
Project Breakdown by County
Chelan County is receiving $1.3 million in total. The City of Wenatchee will receive a $1 million loan to improve its wastewater treatment plant, increasing capacity to accommodate new housing development. The City of Entiat secured a $300,000 loan for the design of a new drinking water reservoir, addressing water availability constraints hindering housing and economic growth.
Grays Harbor County’s City of Westport will benefit from a combined $1 million in loan and grant funding – a $500,000 loan and a $500,000 grant – to support water rights acquisition and geotechnical studies for the development of two new wells at the city’s south wellfield.
Kittitas County is slated to receive $333,500 in combined funding. The City of Kittitas will receive a $166,750 loan and grant to address deteriorating sewer infrastructure, aiming to prevent backups and overflows. The City of Roslyn secured a $125,000 loan and grant to design plans for the replacement and rehabilitation of its water system storage basins, tackling issues of cracks, corrosion, and leaks.
Skagit County’s Public Utility District No. 1 will receive a $750,000 loan for the design phase of a new water storage tank, intended to enhance water reliability and fire suppression capabilities.
Spokane County’s City of Deer Park will receive a $400,000 loan to plan and design a new municipal well, addressing the urgent loss of capacity in its existing well system. Four of the city’s eight wells have already experienced significant capacity reductions, with the remaining wells nearing the end of their operational lifespan.
Yakima County’s City of Yakima will receive a $985,560 loan for the design engineering phase of a comprehensive reconstruction project along 6th Avenue, including pedestrian and ADA upgrades and utility replacements.
PWB Vice Chair Gary Rowe, PE, emphasized the importance of pre-construction funding, stating, “Pre-construction funding is essential because it enables communities to complete the engineering, permitting and design work required to make projects truly shovel-ready for construction dollars. It also accelerates project delivery so critical projects can move to construction faster and at lower long-term cost to ratepayers.”
While the PWB has fully expended its dedicated state fiscal year 2026 pre-construction funds with these awards, the application process remains open. The board encourages interested jurisdictions to submit applications, with potential awards assessed based on the availability of other funding sources.
Established in 1985, the Washington State Public Works Board has provided over $3.8 billion in funding to more than 2,300 infrastructure projects statewide. The board’s mission is to support local governments in meeting their public works needs through loans, grants, financing guarantees, and technical assistance, ultimately bolstering economic vitality and public safety across Washington State.