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Federal lobbyist outlines Medford federal agenda, earmark and grant priorities
Summary
CFM Advocates partner Kirby Garrett presented the city's federal agenda, including five earmark requests to Senators Wyden and Merkley, EPA and DOT grant pursuits, and policy priorities including housing, homelessness and forest management.
Kirby Garrett of CFM Advocates briefed the council Feb. 5 on the city’s federal agenda for 2025, reviewing recent awards the firm helped secure and outlining priority funding requests and policy objectives for the year.
Garrett summarized recent federal awards and said the firm tracks return on investment; he said the city has secured about $24 million in recent awards during their representation and cited a roughly 34-to-1 return on investment for the city’s engagement with federal advocacy services. He described the federal agenda’s two main funding tracks: congressionally directed spending (earmarks) and competitive federal grants.
Garrett said the city plans to submit five earmark requests to Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley by the Feb. 23 deadline: Highland and Barnett Safety Improvements; NEPA study funding for the South Stage Interchange and Overcrossing; a FOG (fats, oils and grease) disposal facility; the Santos Center Discovery Preschool expansion; and the Rogue Retreat Development Center for workforce transition services. He outlined other grant efforts including the regional wastewater treatment improvement loan from EPA, an Assistance to Firefighters Grant for monitor and defibrillator replacement, Department of Transportation funding for the South Stage NEPA study and Bear Creek restoration projects.
On policy priorities, Garrett listed workforce housing, homelessness, mental health and substance-use resources, forest-restoration and smoke-relief issues, and FY 2026 appropriations funding. He also provided a political overview of newly seated federal leaders and described how the change in administration and congressional margins may affect funding opportunities and the competitive environment for certain grant programs.
Councilors asked about whether the new federal administration presents different opportunities or risks. Garrett said Medford — a larger city in a Republican-leaning congressional district — can pursue projects that align with the new administration’s priorities and highlighted transportation and surface-transportation reauthorization as opportunities for large-dollar projects such as the South Stage Overcrossing.
Ending: Garrett said staff will continue to coordinate with the delegation on letters of support and to refine grant and earmark submissions; council asked staff to return with follow-up materials as requests are prepared.
