Background

The Legislature created the Public Works Board in partnership with local governments to assist in addressing infrastructure needs. They use a dedicated funding pool to offer low-interest financing in a revolving loan program. A citizens’ board of infrastructure representatives manage the program.

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Local Impact

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Over 2,000 projects funded.
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Over $3.1 billion in loans.

Board Meetings

The Public Works Board will hold a Special Meeting on March 24, 2023 from 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM. The meeting will be held online via Zoom. Members of the public are invited to attend. 

Join the Zoom meeting

The Public Works Board’s next Monthly Meeting is April 7, 2023 from 8:30 AM – 12:00 PM. This meeting will be held online via Zoom. Members of the public are invited to attend.

Join the Zoom meeting

More Board information can be found on our About Us page.

 

Events

2022 Traditional Programs Application Workshop

PWB Traditional Programs Application Workshop Video
PWB Traditional Programs Application Workshop PowerPoint

2021 Training Webinars

The videos and PowerPoint presentations for these events are now available on the Technical Assistance and Training Page

Latest News

3/21/23 – The Public Works Board will hold a Special Meeting on March 24, 2023 from 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM. The meeting will be held online via Zoom. Members of the public are invited to attend. Join the Zoom meeting.

2/3/2023Are you curious about the work of the Washington State Public Works Board? Check out this video to find out exactly what we do and how we do it!

2/1/2023 – The Public Works Board will hold a Special Meeting on Thursday, February 9, 2023, from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm. Members of the public can attend the meeting via Zoom. Join the Zoom meeting

1/11/2023 – The Public Works Board will hold a Special Meeting on Thursday, January 12, 2023, from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm. Members of the public can attend the meeting via Zoom. Join the Zoom Meeting

12/5/22 – FCC Broadband Mapping – The Washington State Public Works Board, Washington State Broadband Office, and Community Economic Revitalization Board encourage the public to review and verify or challenge the information for their location on the recently published FCC National Broadband Map. The accuracy of this map is critical for future broadband funding allocations. Step by step guidance has been made available.

11/9/22 – The Washington State Public Works board approved over $118 million in funding for local community infrastructure projects at its Friday, Nov. 4 meeting. 

10/18/2022 – PWB is seeking public participation to help identify and prioritize issues that stakeholders believe should be addressed in the Board’s broadband funding program as a result of changes made to the program by the 2022 state Legislature. Input from two public workshops in November and a public hearing session in December will also help guide implementation. For more information, please visit Public Works Board – Broadband Financing.

6/16/2022 – If you missed the chance to participate in the Traditional Programs application workshop, the video and presentation are now available.

PWB Traditional Programs Application Workshop Video
PWB Traditional Programs Application Workshop PowerPoint

6/6/2022 – The application cycle for traditional programs construction and pre-construction loans is open 6/6/2022 to 9/9/2022. Visit the Public Works Financing page for more information and to apply.

4/27/2022 – Proposed project speeds and locations for applications for broadband construction loans have been posted.

3/4/2022 – The Public Works Board broadband application workshop for 2022 state funded loans is now available.

2/22/2022 – The Public Works Board is now accepting applications for broadband construction loans. Visit our broadband funding webpage for details.

2/15/2022 – The Public Works Board will hold a special meeting on February 18, 2022 from 2:00 to 2:30 via Zoom to discuss the interest rates for the upcoming broadband loan funding cycle.

2/4/2022 – The Public Works Board voted today to open a broadband loan funding cycle from February 22, 2022 through April 26, 2022. More details will be released in the coming weeks.

1/31/2022 – The Public Works Board is proud to partner with the Washington State Broadband Office and the Community Economic Revitalization Board to launch a broadband funding webpage to help customers get to the program they need.

12/3/2021 – The Public Works Board approved $44,676,617 in conditional awards for Broadband Construction Federally Funded Grants from this ranked list of applications.

9/23/21 – Complete guidance on the use of Coronavirus Capital Projects Account (CVC-2) funding has been released. The Public Works Board has extended the application deadline for Broadband Construction Federally Funded Grants to October 8, 2021.  The extension is so applicants can review the Broadband Construction Federally Funded Grant Application Guidelines and Guidance for the Coronavirus Capital Projects Fund and ensure their compliance. 

8/18/21 – The Governor’s Office has made four new appointments and one reappointment to the Public Works Board:

  1. Kelly Snyder, MPA replaces Erik Martin, PE. This position is a public works director representative. The nomination is by the Washington State Association of Counties (WSAC).
  2. Matthew Stevie replaces Mark “Bubba” Scott. This position is the PUD representative. The nomination is by the Washington Public Utilities Association (WPUDA).
  3. Justin Clary, PE replaces the Honorable Pam Carter. This position in one of the representatives of Washington Association of Water and Sewer Districts (WASWD).
  4. The Honorable Lora Petso replaces Diane Pottinger, PE. This position is one of the representatives of Washington Association of Water and Sewer Districts (WASWD).
  5. The Honorable Dr. Jeralee Anderson, PE has been reappointed to the PWB for a second term. She is a representative of Washington cities. The position is nominated by the Association of Washington Cities (AWC).

The Public Works Board would like to welcome its new members and recognize the dedication and commitment to excellence of its departing members.

8/6/21 – At their August meeting, the Public Works Board approved funding for their Traditional Programs Pre-Construction and Construction loans. Over $123 million was approved between the two programs. For the rated and ranked list of applicants and to see the awards, click Pre-Construction awards or Construction awards.

6/4/21 – The effort to ensure the quality of life for the residents of Washington is one assumed by all members of the Legislature and the Governor’s Office. At their June Board meeting, the Public Works Board recognized the following Legislative members as Infrastructure Champions:

Senator Frockt
Senator Mullet
Senator Rolfes
Senator Warnick
Senator Wellman
Representative Gregerson
Representative Ramos
Representative Ryu
Representative Steele
Representative Tharinger

5/19/21 – The Traditional Programs Application Webinar PowerPoint presentation, including presenter notes, is now available. The webinar recording is also available for streaming.

5/11/21 – The Public Works Board is proud to present their Spring 2021 Newsletter.

2/8/21 – The Public Works Board is proud to present their Winter 2021 Newsletter.

1/11/21 – Can roads be environmentally-friendly and human-centered? Can they reduce our carbon footprint? Last February, Public Works Board Member Dr. Jeralee Anderson presented a TEDxTalk in Everett about utilizing roads as a component in effectively balancing ecosystems and economies. Stream this TEDxTalk now.

1/5/21 – Governor Jay Inslee has appointed two new members to the Public Works Board.

Kathryn Gardow, PE has been appointed as the new Public Works Board Chair and assumes Position #13 representing the general public. She served as a Public Works Board Member from 2005 to 2014 representing the general public. Five of those years she served as Vice Chair. Kathryn is principal of Gardow Consulting, LLC. Her nearly 40 years of experience includes:

    • Land use and civil engineering as a consultant
    • Project manager in a land use law firm
    • Construction
    • City Engineer

The Honorable Ed Stern has been appointed to Position #1 as an elected official representing cities. Councilmember Stern has been a member of the Poulsbo City Council for 23 years. He recently retired from a 35 year career in the financial services industry where he specialized in fixed-income investments. From 2008-2009, Councilmember Stern served on the High Speed Internet Strategies Working Group, a position appointed by the Legislature.

1/4/21 – Lincoln County Commissioner Scott Hutsell has stepped down from his position as the Public Works Board Chair. Commissioner Hutsell initially joined the Board as an Elected County Representative in 2012. He was appointed by Governor Inslee as the Board Chair in 2017. The Public Works Board and its staff thank Commissioner Hutsell for his leadership and dedication. We wish him the best of luck in his future endeavors.

11/12/20 – The Department of Health has compiled a list of guidance and resources for water systems and customers about Customer Assistance Programs. The guidance includes requirements under the Governor’s proclamations related to COVID-19.

10/23/20 – The PWB awards broadband construction funding from ranked list of applications.

9/17/20 – Broadband construction application project locations and projected connection speeds is available on the broadband financing webpage.

7/28/20 – If you missed the chance to participate in the PWB hosted training webinars, they are now available for streaming.

Value Planning video
Regionalization video
Asset Management video

6/24/20 – If you missed the chance to participate in this month’s broadband webinars, they are now available for streaming.

Statewide Broadband Partners Meeting video
Broadband Construction Application Workshop video

6/5/20 – The Washington State Department of Commerce’s Building Green Cities Guidebook: Incentivizing Low Impact Development (LID) Beyond Permit Requirements is available. It presents ways that local governments can incentivize developers to voluntarily incorporate LID on projects in urban growth centers. Using input from interviews, a project advisory committee, and social marketing research, we assessed perceived barriers and motivators for developers to provide guidance and policies to help local governments incentivize developers. The Guidebook includes tools and outreach materials that local governments can utilize to encourage developers to go beyond existing stormwater requirements. Also included are factsheets for best management practices and a variety of incentive programs.

Latest News Archive

Basich Boulevard Landslide Damage
Damage caused to Basich Boulevard, a tsunami evacuation route in Aberdeen, by a slow-moving landslide. A PWB Emergency Loan is funding the repair.
Georgetown Wet Weather Treatment Facility under construction
PWB funded construction of the Georgetown Wet Weather Treatment Station in Seattle.
Senator Honeyford visits the site of Terrace Heights Sewer District's completed PWB Emergency Loan project. From left to right: Gray & Osborne Engineer Nancy Wetch, Commissioner Frank Sliger, Commissioner Robert Linker, Senator Honeyford, and Commissioner Harold Sliger.
Senator Honeyford visits the site of Terrace Heights Sewer District's completed PWB Emergency Loan project. From left to right: Gray & Osborne Engineer Nancy Wetch, Commissioner Frank Sliger, Commissioner Robert Linker, Senator Honeyford, and Commissioner Harold Sliger.
Gov. Inslee signing Senate Bill 5511, May 13, 2019
Governor Inslee signs 2SSB 5511 into law, establishing a new broadband program within PWB.