Thank you to the City of Leavenworth for our work together!

Sen. Brad Hawkins sent this bulletin at 04/11/2024 12:08 PM PDT

April 11, 2024

Dear Leavenworth residents,

It has been my honor to work alongside officials and local organizations to address key issues impacting your community. As you may know, the recently approved capital budget update includes my $1.3 million request to complete Upper Valley MEND’s Affordable Rental Project in Leavenworth.

Thanks to the Marson Family, Upper Valley MEND was presented with a unique opportunity to preserve 31 apartment units for affordable workforce housing. The organization has already received $600,000 from Leavenworth, $860,000 from Chelan County, and $1 million from the state. The $1.3 million secured closes the final funding gap for the project.

The City of Leavenworth is a beautiful community and a highly desirable place to visit and live. Unfortunately, people who provide essential community services—such as public works, schools, and healthcare—cannot easily afford to live in the city itself, resulting in a gradual loss of the community over time.

Leavenworth resolution for Sen. Brad Hawkins

Thank you to the City of Leavenworth for recognizing me and approving Res. 06-2024 at its April 9^th Council Meeting. I appreciate your kind words and support.

Securing funding is a team effort

I’m grateful the updated capital budget recognizes Leavenworth’s need for more affordable housing. This project is a unique opportunity thanks to the Marson Family. Special thanks to Upper Valley MEND, City of Leavenworth, Chelan County, Representative Mike Steele, Representative Keith Goehner, community members, private contributors, and others who have worked together to make this possible.

The capital budget this year was especially tight. Still, when I learned that we might have flexibility in the budget for affordable housing, my first calls were to Mayor Florea and Kaylin Bettinger from Upper Valley MEND. They quickly helped me submit a very compelling request. Chelan County, the City of Leavenworth, and Upper Valley MEND have been exceptional partners in affordable housing.

Thank you, Marson Family and Upper Valley MEND

Thank you to Ken Marson and the family for their generous support in making Leavenworth’s Affordable Rental Project possible. Thank you to Executive Director Kaylin Bettinger and Upper Valley MEND for their years of support of affordable housing in Leavenworth. To learn more about Upper Valley MEND, click here.

Affordable Rental Project support

“The rural Upper Wenatchee Valley region – home to Leavenworth – is facing a crisis of affordable housing for local employees. Without housing for employees, local businesses are reducing their open hours, and services like the local hospital and school district struggle to hire and retain staff. Our expensive housing market has driven local workers out, which negatively impacts community vibrancy as well as our local economy.”

Kaylin Bettinger, Upper Valley MEND

“This is critical because, while Leavenworth has grown its tourism workforce by over 500 workers in the past 10 years, we have not provided more than a handful of housing units for these same workers over that period of time. We are fast becoming a community that is affordable only to wealthy second home buyers. This is not sustainable and not healthy for our community, our environment, or our businesses.”

Mayor Carl Florea, City of Leavenworth

Upper Valley MEND is hosting a dinner on May 3 to celebrate Workforce Housing. For more information and tickets, click here.

Working together on affordable housing

Local officials have been working together to seek affordable housing solutions in recent years. In 2022, I partnered with the City of Leavenworth, Chelan County, and Upper Valley MEND to secure passage of my Senate Bill 5868, which allows counties to utilize their existing .09 sales tax dollars for affordable housing infrastructure or facilities. Chelan County has been utilizing this new authority to support project funding as part of its Cascade Public Infrastructure Fund.

I have really enjoyed working with Leavenworth Mayor Carl Florea and the City of Leavenworth on affordable housing issues. We partnered with Chelan County in 2022 to approve my Senate Bill 5868 to help communities like Leavenworth.

Willkommen, in German, means “Welcome.” Leavenworth officials and key organizations have been working together to ensure that the community can welcome the workforce that helps support its local economy.

Thank you for the opportunity to serve

If you have any questions about housing issues, please contact me at senatorbradhawkins.org. You can call our Legislative Hotline at 1-800-562-6000 if you need immediate assistance. Be sure to like and follow me on Facebook for my latest updates.

Thank you for the opportunity to serve as your state senator.

Sincerely,

Brad Hawkins

State Senator Brad Hawkins
12th Legislative District

Website: senatorbradhawkins.org

P.O. Box 40412 | Olympia, WA 98504-0412
(360) 786-7622 or Toll-free: (800) 562-6000

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