Yakima Contingent Lobby in D.C.

A team from the city of Yakima will be lobbying lawmakers in Washington D.C. next week.

City Manager Tony O'Rourke says the team will push for federal grants to help market the Yakima airport to gain more business. He says the goal is to get more people to fly from the Yakima Airport rather then Sea-Tac.

“We have to increase frequency but to do that we have to increase the current load factors of our three flights. So if we can get those up a little bit more, Alaska is committed to more flights for Yakima.”

In addition to the money for the airport, city officials are also looking for grants to help the city battle against gangs.

O'Rourke will be joined by Mayor Micah Cawley and council members Dave Ettl and Maureen Adkison as well as Yakima Police Chief Dominic Rizzi on the trip that starts Sunday.