LYNNWOOD—Congressman Rick Larsen (D-WA02) got to see firsthand the newly constructed Lynnwood Neighborhood Center (LNC) on November 21 after securing a $3 million federal earmark in 2023 for the 40,000-square-foot facility that will serve over 20,000 community members annually when it opens in January 2026.
“I like to be involved with projects that help build the communities that I get to serve and getting the $3 million earmark for Volunteers of America of Western Washington was a project that my whole staff enjoyed working on,” Rep. Larsen told the Lynnwood Times. “Now to see this center nearly open and to be part of making it happen is really gratifying.”
Larsen recently secured $1 million in U.S. Department of Agriculture funding for the Lopez Island Family Resource Center’s Food Center that will include a community kitchen, shared farm stand, rental spaces, and gathering areas for pop-up shops—a similar community neighborhood center concept in San Juan County as the LNC.
Larsen is currently pushing a for a vote in the House of Representatives to extend Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits to prevent health care costs increasing “astronomically.” First introduced in the 2021 American Rescue Plan during the COVID-19 pandemic and later extended, ACA subsidies are scheduled to expire on December 31, 2025, that will result in higher health insurance premiums starting in 2026 for millions of enrollees.
“If we don’t extend those tax credits, 8,000 people will lose health care in my district,” Larsen said, “25,000 or so will see their health care premiums increase astronomically. So, health care remains a priority and helping people address the high cost of health care remains a top priority.”
To return recertification to every 12-months from the recent 6-month requirement following the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill in July 2025, Larsen introduced the Patients Over Paperwork Act.
“Health care should be accessible and affordable for everyone,” said Rep. Larsen. “Most people who lose Medicaid coverage lose it because they forget to fill out a form or check a box, and the BUL [Big Ugly Law] doubles opportunities for a simple paperwork mistake to cost someone their access to health care. I am proud to introduce this bill to protect the 179,000 Medicaid enrollees that I represent.”
Led by VOAWW COO Kristi Meyers, Larsen explored the event center, senior services rooms which can serve up to 250 seniors, and the full-sized industrial community kitchen. Upstairs, Meyers showed Larsen the offices where multiple community-driven nonprofits will set up shop: Medical Teams International, Child Strive, Latino Educational Training Institute, Center for Human Services, Cocoon House, Boys and Girls Club, and more.
Outside, Larsen got to see the full-sized playground provided by the Rotary Club of Lynnwood with its generous donation of $24,000.
The Lynnwood Neighborhood Center (LNC) is a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified facility on 2.13 acres of land in central Lynnwood – sharing a parking lot with nearby Trinity Lutheran Church.
The facility will house a VOA Community Resource Center, medical, dental and behavioral health clinics, an early childcare education and assistance program (ECEAP) preschool, a Boys & Girls club, technology lab, adult day programs, community events and gatherings, culturally specific programs, refugee and immigrant assistance, a commercial kitchen and café, and classes, trainings and workshops serving the areas of Lynnwood, Edmonds, Shoreline, and communities across the area.
Phase I of the project, which encompassed site preparation, reached completion back in 2019 and construction broke ground in April of 2024.
The $26.6 million project is nearly fully funded with only $1 million left to go. Funding partners include federal partners, state partners, county partners, and local cities including Lynnwood, Edmonds, and Mountlake Terrace. Rick Steves announced back in July he plans to match the remaining $1 million.
Key contributors to the project have been Rick Steves with a $3 million gift, $2.2 million in funding from the Washington state’s capital budget in 2018 thanks to District 32 Reps. Ruth Kagi (1999 to 2019) and Cindy Ryu, the Snohomish County Council with a donation of $1 million in ARPA funds, and the City of Lynnwood with $1 million of ARPA funds.
Volunteers of America Western Washington is currently seeking volunteers, for each of its 8 different service areas that house their programs. To apply for volunteer opportunities, visit: volunteer.voaww.org.
Author: Mario Lotmore
