Row River Valley Community Partnership and the Row River Rural Fire Protection District are honored to recognize Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley for their support and advocacy as our community pursues a permanent Main Fire Station for the Row River Valley.
For decades, both senators have championed investments in rural Oregon, recognizing that strong communities depend on reliable infrastructure, public safety services, economic opportunity, and local resilience. Through the Senate Congressionally Directed Spending process, their offices worked closely with our community to understand local needs and advance our request for federal funding consideration.
The proposed Main Fire Station would strengthen emergency response capacity for more than 1,200 residents living in an isolated rural valley while helping protect homes, vulnerable populations, watershed resources, recreation assets, and surrounding public lands. The project represents an important step toward improving long-term emergency response capabilities and community resilience throughout the Row River Valley.
Throughout the application and review process, the staffs of both Senator Wyden and Senator Merkley provided thoughtful guidance, answered questions, and helped our community navigate a highly competitive federal funding process. Their commitment to ensuring rural communities have a voice in Washington, D.C., helped move our request forward for consideration by the Senate Appropriations Committee.
We are especially grateful to Molly McCarthy of Senator Wyden’s office and Sophia Francia, Field Representative for Senator Merkley, whose responsiveness, guidance, and continued assistance helped our community understand and navigate the Senate appropriations process. Their professionalism and commitment to public service made a complex process more accessible for our small rural community.
We would also like to recognize Governor Tina Kotek and Regional Solutions Coordinator Courtney Flathers, whose thoughtful guidance and continued support helped connect our community with resources, navigate complex processes, and advance this effort at critical stages of development.
While the outcome of the appropriations process remains uncertain, having our community’s request advanced for consideration by the Senate Appropriations Committee represents a significant milestone for the Row River Valley. We are grateful for the partnership, encouragement, and commitment demonstrated by Senators Wyden and Merkley, their staffs, and our state partners as we continue working toward a safer and more resilient future for our community.
