Dexter, Wyden, Merkley Announce Nearly $1 Million for Clean Water Infrastructure in Gresham

GRESHAM, OR — Today, Congresswoman Maxine Dexter, M.D. (OR-03) and U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley announced that the City of Gresham received $959,752 from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for essential upgrades to Gresham’s Wastewater Treatment Plant to remove ammonia in the waste streams created by growth in the semiconductor industry.   

The funding was secured by members of the Oregon delegation as an essential community project included in the Fiscal Year 2024 government funding package.

“I’m thrilled Gresham will receive nearly $1 million in funding to make our community’s water cleaner and our environment healthier,” said Congresswoman Dexter. “This is just the beginning. One of the Community Project Funding requests I submitted for the upcoming fiscal year builds on this momentum—an additional $1,092,000 to continue critical upgrades to Gresham’s wastewater system. I will work around the clock in Congress to bring home more resources that help Oregonians thrive.” 

“Gresham’s residents and small businesses need and deserve clean water as well as a clean environment for top-notch quality of life in east Multnomah County,” Wyden said. “I’m gratified the teamwork to secure this key investment has produced this major progress toward those essential goals. And I’ll keep battling for similar results that benefit this growing community.”

“Community-initiated projects are effective because no one knows the unique needs of communities across Oregon like the folks living and working in them—Gresham's wastewater treatment plant upgrade is a prime example of that,” said Merkley, who helped secure this project as a key member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. “I look forward to seeing the City use this federal funding to ensure clean water in Gresham and boost its local economy. I will keep teaming up with Senator Wyden and Representative Dexter to secure even more of these important homegrown projects that will benefit Oregonians in every corner of the state for years to come.” 

“We are grateful to the EPA for understanding the environmental and economic benefits of this investment to our wastewater treatment improvement project,” said Gresham Mayor Travis Stovall. “We are so thankful to Senators Wyden and Merkley, as well as Congresswoman Dexter and former Congressman Blumenauer for their work championing this project and ensuring Gresham received this critical funding.” 

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