WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02) announced more than $80 million in emergency funding for students, colleges and universities in Washington’s Second Congressional District under the American Rescue Plan. The funding will help local institutions weather the severe financial fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic and continue serving students safely. The American Rescue Plan designates at least half of all funding each institution receives for emergency cash assistance grants to students facing hunger, homelessness and other hardship during the pandemic.

In March, President Biden signed into law the American Rescue Plan, a comprehensive relief package Larsen supported which provides more than $36 billion for nearly 3,500 public and private, nonprofit colleges and universities nationwide. Last week, Larsen met with Western Washington University President Sabah Randhawa to hear how federal aid is providing relief to students and helping the Bellingham university maintain operations during the pandemic.

“The success of local colleges and universities is critical to the success of students and communities in Northwest Washington,” said Larsen. “The American Rescue Plan makes a necessary investment to secure the future of institutions and provide struggling students with urgent relief that will allow them to focus on learning and completing their education.”

The colleges and universities in Washington’s Second District receiving funding under the American Rescue Plan are:

• Western Washington University: $32,157,033

• Everett Community College: $12,047,273

• Edmonds College: $10,567,140

• Skagit Valley College: $8,861,122

• Whatcom Community College: $8,537,065

• Bellingham Technical College: $6,428,903

Additionally, colleges and universities with campuses in Washington’s Second District also receiving funding under the American Rescue Plan include:

• University of Washington: $106,298,240

• Washington State University: $61,545,366

• Northwest Indian College (NWIC): $1,503,818

Students should contact their institutions for more information about how they can apply for an emergency grant.

The American Rescue Plan also includes nearly $3 billion in additional funding – which will be distributed at a later date – for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs), other Minority-Serving Institutions and other institutions.

To read more about emergency education funding under the American Rescue Plan, click here.

For a full list of colleges and universities receiving American Rescue Plan funding, click here.

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