Patterson said the whole $1.5 million allocation is for road development.
“Our consultant now estimates it could cost $10 million to build the road connecting Highway 11 with Highway 30,” he said. “We plan on using the money to build a specific phase of the connectivity. The funds should pay the cost of a portion of the road.”
Patterson said it could take nine to 12 months for the funds to become available from Congress’ omnibus bill.
“In that time, we can do the design and environmental impact studies,” he said. “When released, the funding can go completely to construction.”
The other project is $700,000 for facility improvements at Oregon State University’s Columbia Basin Agricultural Research Center near Adams.
The Business Opportunity Incubator in Irrigon is getting an even $1 million.
“The city of Irrigon’s Business Incubator Opportunity will provide much needed and desired facilities for startup business,” City Manager Aaron Palmquist said. “Small business venues are the backbone for the American economy.”
And Morrow County is getting $177,000 for its Primary Emergency Operations Center Generator Project.
Morrow County Emergency Manager Paul Gray said this is the second part of a generator project to make sure the county’s emergency operations centers have power when they need it most.
“So the first part was securing funds for the county government building up in Irrigon, which we did receive,” he said. “We haven’t gotten the generator up there yet, but with this funding coming through that will basically supply power to both of our EOCs on the northern and southern ends of the county.”
According to Wyden and Merkley, 145 Oregon communities will receive funding for critical projects, all of varying totals.