Public Works Board approves $5.45 million in first-round flood-resilience grants to four jurisdictions
September 04, 2026 | Board Council Commission Agencies , Executive, Washington
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The Public Works Board on Sept. 4 approved staff recommendations to award the first round of December 2025 Flood Resilience Grants, committing just over $5.4 million to four projects and leaving roughly $4.3 million of the roughly $9.7 million appropriation available for future awards.
Max Wedding, programs director for the Public Works Board, framed the program as noncompetitive and eligibility-driven: “These 1st awards are for 4 jurisdictions that have met the eligibility criteria, met the feasibility criteria, and are recommended for just over $5,400,000 of the about $9,700,000 that's available,” he said. Isabella Kochan, project manager, walked the board through the recommended projects: a $750,000 Company Creek resilience reconstruction in Chelan County, a $700,000 Exhibitor Road bridge repair in Chehalis, a $2 million Broadway Road stabilization in Hakim and a $2 million South 259th Street flood-resiliency project in Kent.
Kochan described the Chelan County project as addressing catastrophic washout from the December event: “During the December event, the severe flooding in the Stahikin River washed out over 1,800 feet of Company Creek Road,” she said, noting the plan includes a setback from the previous footprint, geotextile membrane, lowered road height and habitat features with an anticipated October 2026 completion. The Chehalis and Hakim projects were described as structural repairs and resilience features to address storm scour and bluff-related settlement; Kent's project would raise a low stretch of South 259th Street and construct a levee tied to a Union Pacific Railroad embankment.
Member Justin Clary thanked staff for quickly standing up the program and moved to approve the awards with the friendly amendment previously accepted on the consent agenda; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote. Staff said they will provide a more detailed breakdown and memos at the October board meeting when awards are made formally and contracts are prepared.
Why it matters: The grants are intended to get recovery and resilience work moving after December 2025 flooding; staff emphasized the program's focus on eligibility, feasibility and rapid deployment ahead of the October awards round.
Max Wedding, programs director for the Public Works Board, framed the program as noncompetitive and eligibility-driven: “These 1st awards are for 4 jurisdictions that have met the eligibility criteria, met the feasibility criteria, and are recommended for just over $5,400,000 of the about $9,700,000 that's available,” he said. Isabella Kochan, project manager, walked the board through the recommended projects: a $750,000 Company Creek resilience reconstruction in Chelan County, a $700,000 Exhibitor Road bridge repair in Chehalis, a $2 million Broadway Road stabilization in Hakim and a $2 million South 259th Street flood-resiliency project in Kent.
Kochan described the Chelan County project as addressing catastrophic washout from the December event: “During the December event, the severe flooding in the Stahikin River washed out over 1,800 feet of Company Creek Road,” she said, noting the plan includes a setback from the previous footprint, geotextile membrane, lowered road height and habitat features with an anticipated October 2026 completion. The Chehalis and Hakim projects were described as structural repairs and resilience features to address storm scour and bluff-related settlement; Kent's project would raise a low stretch of South 259th Street and construct a levee tied to a Union Pacific Railroad embankment.
Member Justin Clary thanked staff for quickly standing up the program and moved to approve the awards with the friendly amendment previously accepted on the consent agenda; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote. Staff said they will provide a more detailed breakdown and memos at the October board meeting when awards are made formally and contracts are prepared.
Why it matters: The grants are intended to get recovery and resilience work moving after December 2025 flooding; staff emphasized the program's focus on eligibility, feasibility and rapid deployment ahead of the October awards round.
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