News Releases
Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - March 17, 2004
Contact:  Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136

Gov. Gary Locke Supports Full Funding for Riverpoint Campus

OLYMPIA – March 17, 2004 – Gov. Gary Locke today announced his intention to support full funding for Washington State University’s Riverpoint campus building in downtown Spokane.

The governor made the decision following discussions yesterday with Senate Minority Leader Lisa Brown, D-Spokane, local business leader Don Barbieri, and Spokane Schools Executive Director Laurie Dolan.

When the governor signs the state construction budget later this month, he will include the
$31.6 million in funding authorized by the state House and Senate last week. The funding is intended to build a combination library, classroom and office building at the downtown campus.

“Senator Brown, Don Barbieri and Laurie Dolan made excellent points about the impact on the local area and importance of the Riverpoint campus to Spokane,” Locke said of his discussions with the three Spokane community leaders. “They stressed the economic development benefits as well as the excellent education opportunities this facility will provide. While I initially proposed $6.7 million to begin this project, these community leaders assured me that the $31.6 million would be put to work immediately to complete this important project.”

The Riverpoint campus building will provide much-needed overcrowding relief to WSU nursing students, Eastern Washington University and other regional schools that need the space. “The new building and the entire campus are an example of what we can do when we build alliances among institutions of higher education,” Locke said. “The people who really benefit are the students who will receive much-needed space to pursue their education.”

The governor was convinced by Brown, Barbieri and Dolan of the economic impact the Riverpoint campus has on downtown Spokane. The campus and its new building are located in a growing university district, in what has been one of the most economically depressed areas in the city. “This new building – and the entire Riverpoint campus – are key to Spokane’s continued revitalization and growth as well as creating some much-needed jobs,” he said.

Locke noted that several WSU regents and only a couple of Spokane business leaders had contacted him in support of full funding for the Riverpoint project.

Locke must sign the state construction budget by April 3.


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