For Immediate Release

April 17, 2006

FEDERAL GRANT TO ASSIST BREMERTON MARINA PROJECT

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The effort to expand Bremerton’s waterfront marina received a substantial contribution from the federal government today as Congressman Norm Dicks and Senator Maria Cantwell announced the award of a $3 million grant for the construction of a new breakwater for the downtown harbor.

                    Accompanied on a tour of the marina site today by the U.S. Commerce Department’s top economic development official, Sandy K. Baruah, the lawmakers said the grant comes at a critical time as the city’s downtown re-development program is dramatically changing the character of Bremerton’s waterfront neighborhood.

                    “This project addresses the city's goal of maximizing the economic potential of Bremerton's newly-restored waterfront,” Rep. Dicks said. “The expansion of the marina that will be made possible by the construction of this new breakwater will significantly increase its capacity to serve recreational boaters, creating hundreds of new jobs and complementing the mix of residential, retail and office development that is now occurring in our city,” Rep. Dicks added.

                    “This is another great boost for Bremerton’s downtown,” said Sen. Cantwell. “Enhancing the city’s marina infrastructure is a smart, effective way to create new jobs and bring in more business—two of my top priorities as a member of the Senate Commerce and Small Business Committees. This substantial investment in Bremerton’s waterfront will build on the great downtown revitalization already underway and help cement the city’s position as one of the Sound’s hottest places for decades to come.”

                    Rep. Dicks and Sen. Cantwell both applauded Baruah, who serves as Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development, for his personal involvement in approving the grant, which Baruah called an “investment” in the city’s future.

                    Rep. Dicks said that in addition to creating jobs, the marina expansion project will “also maximize one of the most positive and picturesque aspects of our area -- the city’s beautiful waterfront view and it will make the entire waterfront more desirable as a place to live, work, shop and to dine.”

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