On the road: Air quality, community development, and financial aid

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Gov. Jay Inslee visited Vancouver, Wa on Wednesday, May 1, to meet with local leaders and residents about efforts related to air quality monitoring, community development and to highlight Washington’s top national ranking in need-based financial aid. 

 

Air quality monitoring

 

At Mountain View High School, Inslee toured an air quality monitoring site operated by the Department of Ecology in partnership with the school and Southwest Clean Air Agency. 

"We have this epidemic of asthma in our state, and the closer your kid lives to a freeway breathing that diesel smoke, the more likely they are to have asthma," Inslee said.
 
The site tracks pollution levels in Vancouver, an area identified as heavily impacted by industrial and transportation emissions due to heavy roadways, trains, and port activity. Under the Climate Commitment Act (CCA), the state is allocating $2.85 million every two years to expand air monitoring across 16 such communities in Washington, ensuring residents have more representative air quality data. In addition to expanding air monitoring sites, the CCA empowers communities to take action to reduce air pollution by allocating $10 million in grants to organizations and communities working on air quality initiatives.
 
Community development
 
Inslee listens as community members, leaders, and residents of the Fourth Plain Community Commons share their stories of achievement and progress within their neighborhood.
Inslee listens as community members, leaders, and residents of the Fourth Plain Community Commons share their stories of achievement and progress within their neighborhood.

Inslee's next stop was the Fourth Plain Community Commons, a mixed-use development combining affordable housing and a flexible community space. This space offers residents a place to gather, host events, and access essential services.  While the Fourth Plain Corridor is known for its racial diversity, it also faces challenges from heavy traffic volumes contributing to air pollution. During his tour, Inslee received an update from Fourth Plain Forward, a non-profit championing the empowerment of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color communities. This development is an example of successful collaboration between local and state entities, with Washington state contributing $6.5 million to support its development.

Financial aid

Inslee with Fort Vancouver High School students after a panel discussion.
Inslee with Fort Vancouver High School students after a panel discussion. 

The governor made his final stop at Fort Vancouver High School, where he participated in a student panel focused on Washington's nationally recognized financial aid programs for college and career training. Despite holding the top spot for financial aid offerings, a concerning trend emerged. The Vancouver School District, reflecting a statewide decline, saw a concerning 27% drop in students completing financial aid applications this year.

The discussion delved into the reasons behind the lower application rates and explored strategies to boost student participation. While the federal government has made efforts to create a simpler and quicker form, the rollout has been frustrating for students and administrators due to various technical issues. Unfortunately, these technical problems have discouraged some students from applying and completing the application. 

After hearing about the challenges, the governor urged them to be patient and persistent in their college application process. He encouraged them to work closely with their school counselors to ensure a successful application. He also highlighted the availability of the Washington Application for State Financial Aid (WASFA), which allows all Washington students access to state financial aid regardless of immigration status.

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