Davids, Merriam Leaders Celebrate Final Passage of Flooding Project Funds
MERRIAM, KS – Today, Representative Sharice Davids joined Merriam Mayor Bob Pape and local officials to celebrate passage of Davids' funding request for the Upper Turkey Creek flood mitigation project.
Last week, the President signed a government funding law fulfilling Davids' request for $500,000 to kickstart this vital infrastructure and economic development project, which will lift downtown Merriam out of the floodplain and protect hundreds of homes and businesses from flooding.
Rep. Davids, Mayor Pape, Johnson County Commissioners and Merriam City Councilmembers at Upper Turkey Creek today
"For so many in Merriam—homeowners who deal with consistent flooding, businesses who worry about the creek's impact on their future—this levee project is vital. With the help of federal funding, we can help those folks sleep easier at night and welcome new opportunity to the area,"said Davids. "This project passed detailed reviews and met significant standards, and I know it will have a high return on investment for decades to come."
"We are grateful to Rep. Davids for bringing attention to this project, which has been a priority for Merriam for years and is really critical to our local economy," said Merriam Mayor Bob Pape. "The risk of flooding has prevented reinvestment by existing businesses, driven away potential new business interest, and threatens our residents' homes. Rep. Davids' federal funding request and the approval efforts from the House and Senate to move downtown Merriam out of the floodplain will greatly improve safety, attract development, and help us realize downtown Merriam's full potential."
The Upper Turkey Creek project was passed along with H.R. 2471, the broader government funding bill for fiscal year 2022. The federal investment will be a "shot in the arm" that allows the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to begin design and analysis of this longtime priority for the community. The risk of flooding has been a significant barrier to economic development and safety in the area, especially as severe weather events become more frequent. When completed, the levee will protect hundreds of homes and over 80 businesses in Merriam, improving quality of life and attracting additional investment.
Rep. Davids and Merriam Mayor Bob Pape celebrate passage of Upper Turkey Creek levee funding
"We are very excited about the collaboration of Rep. Davids and the City of Merriam on the funding request for the Upper Turkey Creek Levee Project," said Deb Settle, President and CEO of the North East Johnson County Chamber of Commerce. "This project is very important to our current businesses and is also an important component of attracting new businesses to the area, in turn creating countless new jobs – which is what we at the NEJC Chamber strive to do on a daily basis."
Members of Congress were able to request federal resources for up to 10 projects with demonstrated community support. Out of hundreds of bipartisan submissions, eight Davids-requested projects were passed into law. Each project was submitted in tandem with local officials and selected for its potential to improve health and safety in the community, tackle climate change, and bring economic opportunity to the Third District. In total, more than $15.7 million is coming to the Kansas Third.