PRESS RELEASE
WATERFRONT DEVELOPMENT APPROPRIATION APPROVED
BY CONGRESSIONAL SUBCOMMITTEES
The City of Coos Bay announced today that Senators Ron Wyden, Senator Jeff Merkley, and Representative Peter DeFazio have together secured subcommittee approvals for $500,000 in federal funding assistance for construction of the new Coos Historical and Maritime Center on the Coos Bay waterfront. Following this action by House and Senate subcommittees, the award must receive full Congressional approval; no vote is expected until the end of the calendar year.
"This is a tremendously encouraging sign," says Mayor Jeff McKeown. "Our federal delegation recognizes that our community is planning carefully to set a strong foundation for our economic future, and they're working hard to help us find federal partnership. There are several steps left to go, but we're thrilled that they've placed this request in such a strong position for the next round of decisions."
The Coos Historical & Maritime Center is to be built on a prominent site on Highway 101 waterfront on property purchased by the Coos Bay Urban Renewal Agency for this project. It is planned as a catalyst for waterfront redevelopment in the Bay Area, and is expected to serve as a hub for destinations throughout Coos County. The Center is designed as a multi-faceted community resource and as one of several anchor points for a planned pedestrian and bikeway along the waterfront between Coos Bay and North Bend. The project's anticipated benefits for community revitalization were strongly endorsed by a South Coast Development Council-sponsored "Sustainable Development Assistance Team" that recently visited the area.
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