Eatonville Town Council to vote on joint grant application - lend your support!
Western Forest Industries Museum, a nonprofit, 501c3 organization, has approached Eatonville’s Town Council to request a joint grant application. The Reconnecting Communities Pilot Program’s Planning Grant aims to help communities previously cut off from economic opportunity by transportation infrastructure. This planning grant will study current traffic patterns and help make suggestions for improved transportation network capacity. Additional study of mobility (pedestrian & bike use), environmental impacts, and anticipated economic impacts will be encompassed in the grant. WFIM understands that the Town of Eatonville has existing infrastructure challenges including a lack of parking in town, and limited economic impact from the many tourists passing through en route to Mt. Rainier National Park, due to infrastructure challenges (parking, walkability, etc.).
One of WFIM’s short-term goals is to build a new railroad depot in the Town of Eatonville. The positive economic and cultural impacts of this project are numerous. Nevertheless, WFIM is committed to helping communities with smart growth and development. Our organization wants to be a true partner with our stakeholders – and ensure that the railroad benefits local residents and enhances the quality of life while helping advance the Town’s comprehensive plan, vision, and goals. Partnering in this grant application will allow for this smart growth, for well-thought-out development, and for local voices to be at the forefront of development.
See the draft resolution here.
Town Council Contact Information
If you live in the area, please consider attending Eatonville’s Town Council meeting on Monday, September 26th at 7 pm, and speaking on behalf of the railroad. For those unable to attend in person, Town Council meetings are held on Zoom. Meeting ID: 537 233 9187; Passcode: 98328. For more information regarding this initiative or to making a public comment at the council meeting, please email bethan.maher@wfim.org.
