Eastern Washington Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA-05), co-chair of the House Rural Health Coalition, released the following statement congratulating the city of Spokane for securing a $60,000 Invest Health grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and Reinvestment Fund to address poverty and long-term health.

“Cities like Spokane have great potential to boost the local economy and face the challenges of entrenched poverty, lack of investment, and poor health,” said McMorris Rodgers. “Our communities don’t have to be bound by poverty. This public-private partnership provides a much-needed boost to this Eastern Washington population, and will attract capital to the region to help us lift people out of the vicious cycle of poverty.”

Note: More than 180 teams from 170 communities applied for the grants, and Spokane was the only city in Washington state selected.