Over $5.3 Million in Federal Funds Secured for Deschutes County, Senators Announce

In a joint press release, Oregon Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden stated that they have secured “more than $92 million” for Oregon as part of funding legislation recently passed by congressional appropriations committees.

Over $7.1 million will go to projects in Deschutes and Jefferson counties, with the former receiving a majority of that sum.

The money comes as a part of Fiscal Year 2026 funding bills drawn up by House and Senate Appropriations Committees and approved by Congress at large.

Appropriations bills passed by Congress fund “Financial Services and General Government,” “Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies,” “Transportation, Housing and Urban Development,” and more. Those three bills combined allow for more than $300 billion in federal “discretionary funding,” per the Senate Appropriations Committee.

A bill that hasn’t passed is the FY26 Homeland Security Appropriations Act, which, as the name suggests, would fund the Department of Homeland Security. Violent conduct by DHS agencies nationwide has led to all Senate Democrats, except for Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman, opposing the bill, which requires 60 votes to pass.

Republicans, who control 53 Senate seats, argue that Democrats blocking the bill will cause a partial government shutdown without achieving their goal of hampering Immigrations and Customs Enforcement. Last year’s “Big Beautiful Bill,” passed through a slim Republican congressional majority, showered billions on ICE in a major departure from the standard federal funding process.

Federal dollars, local projects

Of the roughly $7.1 million in appropriations funding that will go to Central Oregon, approximately $5.3 million has been allotted to projects in Deschutes County.

This includes a $2 million allocation to the City of Redmond to help fund Cinder Hollow, a 30-unit affordable housing project designed by Bend nonprofit RootedHomes. Cinder Hollow will sit on 5 acres of land west of the Redmond Memorial Cemetery. According to the senators’ press release, federal funds will be used for “pre-development infrastructure, including sewer collection, water service, fire hydrants, and sidewalks.”

“The Cinder Hollow project will be significant as it will provide affordable housing opportunities for those who cannot currently access the housing market,” said Redmond Mayor Ed Fitch.

Deschutes County will receive $1.3 million to help fund the establishment of a child psychiatric treatment center – the first such facility east of the I-5 corridor. Other funding from the state government and Central Oregon Health Council totals nearly $7 million. Construction is projected to begin in 2027; the facility is planned to be located in Redmond.

One million in funding will go to Bend-Redmond Habitat for Humanity’s Westcliff Homes affordable housing project in Redmond. Planned as a mix of small homes and townhouses, Westcliff Homes will give 60 families a chance to “put down roots, build equity, and thrive in the community they love,” said Carly Colgan, CEO of Bend-Redmond HH.

Central Oregon Community College will make use of $800,000 to equip and expand its Fire Science program, which trains urban and wildland firefighters.

Finally, the City of Redmond will receive $250,000 to fund its Signal and Pedestrian Safety Improvements project. That money will go toward a new traffic signal, pedestrian and bicycle crossings and improved disabled access at the west Redmond intersection of McKenzie Highway and SW 35th Street.

On Feb. 9, Merkley, Wyden and Rep. Janelle Bynum touted a separate $3.8 million in Federal Aviation Administration funding for the Redmond Municipal Airport’s planned expansion. “I will continue pushing for more vital resources that promote growth and quality of life in rural communities across Oregon,” Wyden stated.

This article appears in the Source February 19, 2026.