[Seattle, WA] The Washington Wildlife and Recreation Coalition (WWRC) is seeking signatures from individuals and organizations for a letter supporting $120 million for the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program (WWRP) in the 2017-19 biennium.
WWRP is our state’s premier grant program for habitat conservation and outdoor recreation. Funded through the state capital construction budget, the WWRP has successfully leveraged over $1.3 billion for more than 1,200 projects since 1989, creating not only parks and wildlife habitat, but also jobs, revenue, and increased quality of life throughout the state.
The Coalition believes that investing in the WWRP is an exceptionally cost-effective strategy for advancing the long-term health and well-being of our residents, our diverse ecosystems, and our state and local economies. WWRP projects help mitigate the impacts of rapid population growth, improve neighborhood safety, maintain parks, and preserve wildlife habitat. These projects also allow anglers, farmers, and foresters to protect the land their families have utilized and depended on for generations.
In 2016 alone, 98 different local, state, tribal, and non-profit groups from across the state submitted 220 applications for funding in the next biennium. If the Coalition’s funding request of $120 million is met by the Governor and the legislature, many important projects will receive funding they need. Adequate funding for the WWRP helps create outdoor recreational opportunities for our communities and preserves our most treasured places.
The Coalition is asking individuals, organizations, companies, and agencies to sign this letter supporting the $120 million funding request. The deadline for the sign-on letter is November 21. Please contact Lou-Anne Daoust-Filiatrault at LouAnne@WildlifeRecreation.org for policy-related questions.
Sign today: http://bit.ly/SignOnWWRP.