• Home
  • About
  • Advertise
Sunday, June 1, 2025
No Result
View All Result
Astoria Journal
  • Home
  • News
  • Community
  • Local News
  • Oregon
  • About
  • Home
  • News
  • Community
  • Local News
  • Oregon
  • About
No Result
View All Result
Astoria Journal
No Result
View All Result

Mapleton Water District Faces Financial Struggles After FEMA Cancels Key Grant Program

by Tonya McPhearson
April 10, 2025
in Community
Mapleton Water District Faces Financial Struggles After FEMA Cancels Key Grant Program
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Mapleton, Ore. – The Mapleton Water District (MWD) is grappling with significant financial setbacks following the cancellation of the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program by the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA). District officials confirmed that the cancellation has not only halted future funding but has also nullified approved grant applications dating back to 2020.

Among the most notable casualties is a $2.7 million application submitted by MWD for a 300,000-gallon water storage tank project, designed to provide an emergency potable water supply to the community. In addition, two sub-applications intended for other water system improvements have also been revoked, exacerbating the district’s financial challenges. These applications, initially submitted by Lane County in early 2023, were part of MWD’s broader efforts to enhance its water infrastructure and ensure long-term reliability.

Vanessa West, chair of the MWD Board of Commissioners, expressed her frustration with the situation, emphasizing the years of volunteer and community effort invested in the grant applications. “Local volunteers, board members, and County staff have been working on this for years,” West said. “So, to see all this work go to waste is disheartening. The need for additional storage, particularly on the east side of our system, remains, and we hope that the work that was put into this application can be reused for a future funding opportunity.”

The setback comes at a time when the district’s infrastructure is in critical need of improvement. Art Donnelly, MWD’s vice chair and chair of the grant committee, noted that the water system requires approximately $20 million in upgrades to meet current demands and future needs. However, without the necessary grant support, the district faces the difficult choice of seeking loans to fund these improvements. Such financing could result in steep annual loan payments, which may drive up water rates and make service unaffordable for many residents.

The cancellation of the BRIC program has left the Mapleton Water District in a precarious position, with no clear path forward for securing the necessary funding to ensure a reliable and safe water supply for the community. While MWD officials remain hopeful that their work can be leveraged for future opportunities, the immediate impact of the grant loss is a harsh reality for both the district and its residents.

As the district looks for alternative funding options, it remains uncertain when or how the necessary infrastructure improvements will be made, raising concerns about the long-term sustainability of the water system.

You May Also Like

Lane County Community Plastics Program to End After Seven Years

Lane County Community Plastics Program to End After Seven Years

by Tonya McPhearson
May 30, 2025
0

Eugene, Ore. — After seven years of operation, the Lane County community plastics program is coming to a close. Established...

Eugene Tea Festival Sees Rapid Growth and Enthusiastic Attendance in 2024

Eugene Tea Festival Sees Rapid Growth and Enthusiastic Attendance in 2024

by Tonya McPhearson
May 28, 2025
0

EUGENE, Ore. – Since its inception, the Eugene Tea Festival has quickly become a beloved annual event for tea enthusiasts...

High Gas Prices Impact Memorial Day Travel in Springfield and Beyond

High Gas Prices Impact Memorial Day Travel in Springfield and Beyond

by Tonya McPhearson
May 27, 2025
0

SPRINGFIELD, Ore. — As Memorial Day Weekend ushers in the unofficial start of summer, travelers in Springfield and surrounding areas...

PeaceHealth Announces Layoffs at Pacific Northwest Hospitals Amid Rising Operational Costs

PeaceHealth Announces Layoffs at Pacific Northwest Hospitals Amid Rising Operational Costs

by Tonya McPhearson
May 26, 2025
0

SPRINGFIELD, Ore. — PeaceHealth has announced layoffs impacting employees at two major hospitals in the Pacific Northwest, including PeaceHealth Sacred...

Lane County Proposes Budget Cuts, Aiming to Trim Vacant and Part-Time Positions

Lane County Proposes Budget Cuts, Aiming to Trim Vacant and Part-Time Positions

by Tonya McPhearson
May 9, 2025
0

EUGENE, Ore. – In a move to address anticipated funding shortfalls, Lane County officials are proposing to cut or phase...

Man Sentenced to Prison After Pleading Guilty to Criminally Negligent Homicide in Death of Elderly Man in Eugene

Man Sentenced to Prison After Pleading Guilty to Criminally Negligent Homicide in Death of Elderly Man in Eugene

by Tonya McPhearson
May 8, 2025
0

EUGENE, Ore. – A man accused of killing an elderly person in downtown Eugene in 2024 has been sentenced to...

Next Post
Rally in Eugene Raises Concerns Over USPS Cuts and Privatization

Rally in Eugene Raises Concerns Over USPS Cuts and Privatization

Lane County Community Plastics Program to End After Seven Years
Community

Lane County Community Plastics Program to End After Seven Years

by Tonya McPhearson
May 30, 2025
0

Eugene, Ore. — After seven years of operation, the Lane County community plastics program is coming to a close. Established...

Read more
Coos Bay Gym Owner Faces Multiple Sexual Abuse Allegations Involving Teen Girls

Coos Bay Gym Owner Faces Multiple Sexual Abuse Allegations Involving Teen Girls

May 30, 2025
Homelessness in Lane County Surges 14% Since Last Year, Driven by Housing Shortages

Homelessness in Lane County Surges 14% Since Last Year, Driven by Housing Shortages

May 30, 2025
North Eugene High School Placed on Lockdown After Reported Juvenile Gun Incident Nearby

North Eugene High School Placed on Lockdown After Reported Juvenile Gun Incident Nearby

May 30, 2025
Mobile Home Fire in Glenwood Contained Quickly; No Injuries Reported

Mobile Home Fire in Glenwood Contained Quickly; No Injuries Reported

May 28, 2025

Astoria Journal is the Astoria’s largest locally owned, independent news platform. We specialize in hyperlocal coverage of the people, places and events that shape the communities we love. Our team of award-winning, Astoria-based, reporters are dedicated to bringing readers stories fast, first and forever free.

  • Home
  • About
  • Advertise

© 2021 Astoria Journal

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Community
  • Local News
  • Oregon
  • About

© 2021 Astoria Journal