Last night the U.S. House of Representatives approved $400,000 for Mill Creek Employment Center, announced Congressman Kurt Schrader (D-OR) who requested the funding for the project. The funding will be used for infrastructure water line looping improvements that will increase the water pressure for fire safety and expand its use for over 500 developable aces at Mill Creek. The funding is included in the FY2010 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Act.
Last night the U.S. House of Representatives approved $400,000 for Mill Creek Employment Center, announced Congressman Kurt Schrader (D-OR) who requested the funding for the project. The funding will be used for infrastructure water line looping improvements that will increase the water pressure for fire safety and expand its use for over 500 developable aces at Mill Creek. The funding is included in the FY2010 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Act.
“These infrastructure improvements mean jobs now and economic development in the future for Salem,” said Schrader. “Mill Creek has the opportunity to bring thousands of high quality jobs to Salem and I look forward to continuing to work with Mayor Taylor and city officials to make these jobs a reality.”
At 650 acres, the Mill Creek Employment Center, located in the southeast corner of the Salem urban growth boundary, is one of the largest industrial properties with undeveloped acreage along the I-5 corridor in the Northwest. The site is likely to be a huge economic development project for the area as it has direct access to regional transportation facilities, including I-5, highway 22, rail facilities, the Port of Portland, and a proximity to a large labor force.
Local leaders, like Salem Mayor Janet Taylor, were quick to thank Congressman Schrader for his work on this project.
“Thanks to the efforts of Representative Schrader, Salem is close to receiving an appropriations earmark for $400,000 to begin infrastructure improvements at the Mill Creek Employment Center in southeast Salem,” said Taylor. “We deeply appreciate his representation of our area and his efforts to obtain this appropriation. Mill Creek is one of the largest industrial properties available along the I-5 corridor in the northwest and bringing it on-line will ensure future jobs for our citizens.”
The primary purpose of the Mill Creek Employment Center and the Salem Renewable Energy Park is job creation. When completed these properties are expected to generate private development that will create 5,000+ jobs, invest one billion dollars in the regional economy, transfer nearly 600 acres from public to private ownership, and create 110 acres of wetland and open space.
The differences between the House and Senate versions of the FY2010 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations bill will need to be worked out in conference before Congress sends a final bill to President Barack Obama for his signature.
