Bill Includes Wildfire Assistance

Thu., Aug. 18, 1994

Source: From Staff Reports

A Senate appropriations bill will include $55 million in grant money for Washington state communities devastated by wildfires.

The Commerce, State and Justice Committee bill will make money available quickly to tourist-dependent and other businesses through the Economic Development and Small Business administrations, said Sen. Slade Gorton, R-Wash.

“This paves the way for any sort of disaster assistance and makes it more readily accessible for those impacted by the fires,” he said. “This tragedy has received national attention, and it deserves a national response.”

Gorton said 40 percent of the tourism revenues in Chelan County are usually generated in August.

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