Holy: New state capital budget funds key projects in Airway Heights, Cheney

April 23, 2021

A compromise two-year state capital budget agreement that could receive votes by the Senate and House of Representatives as soon as tomorrow includes money for two key infrastructure projects in Airway Heights and Cheney that will help both projects be fully funded, said 6th District Sen. Jeff Holy.

The capital budget includes $14.955 million to help the city of Airway Heights dig a much-needed new water well, and $11.05 million in funding for the Cheney “purple pipe” project that will help that community reduce the amount of water it needs to pull out of the ground.

“I’m glad I was able to help secure funding in the new capital budget for these two water projects that will greatly benefit Cheney and Airway Heights,” said Holy, R-Cheney. “After Congress provided COVID-19 stimulus funding to our state earlier this year, I worked hard to make sure part of that stimulus funding was used to help fund both the Airway Heights water project and the Cheney ‘purple pipe’ project. I’m glad Senate and House capital budget negotiators fulfilled my funding requests for these two important projects for these two communities.”

The compromise capital budget also funds several projects at Eastern Washington University in Cheney:

  • Science Building renovation ($45 million)
  • Infrastructure renewal ($10 million)
  • Minor works preservation ($3 million)
  • Preservation and maintenance backlog reduction ($2.217 million)
  • Minor works program ($1 million)

Other 6th District projects funded in the capital budget include:

  • Spokane Falls Community College Fine and Applied Arts Building replacement ($19.342 million)
  • Department of Natural Resources’ Airway Heights facility replacement ($4.2 million)
  • Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Spokane hatchery renovation ($2.8 million)
  • Department of Corrections preservation projects ($2.27 million)
  • Eastern State Hospital emergency electrical system upgrade ($1.055 million)
  • Ashley House in Spokane ($552,000)
  • Cheney Depot rehabilitation project ($306,000)

Senate and House negotiators reached a final agreement on the state capital budget earlier this week. The Senate and House are expected to vote on it tomorrow or this weekend. The 2021 legislative session is scheduled to end on Sunday.