Sen. Betti Sheldon has been appointed to the Community Economic Revitalization Board (CERB), which helps fund rural economic development projects.

“Our rural communities struggle even during good times, and now is not the best of times,” said Sheldon, who has represented the 23rd District in the Legislature since 1993. “That’s why the revitalization board is so important. It funnels loans to our most strapped communities at times when private investment is hard to come by.”

Lt. Gov. Brad Owen appointed Sheldon (D-Bremerton) last month to serve as one of the four legislators on the 19-member board. CERB provides low-interest loans to public entities, such as cities and port districts, to help with the construction of buildings, bridges, roads, water and sewer systems as part of an effort to create jobs and promote economic development.

One of the board’s recent projects was funding the building construction at the Port of Bremerton, which will allow an avionics business to expand operations.

Sheldon is the Democratic floor leader, and sits on the powerful Ways & Means Committee.