Capital facilities grants for community-based, nonresidential community and social service projects

Updated September 14, 2009

The 2009 Legislative Session enacted the following changes: 

The BCF citizen Advisory Committee will now rank the applications prior to forwarding them to the Legislature for review.  Grant applications are screened by staff and then ranked by an advisory committee of experts.  Ranking criteria include the ability to complete the project expediently, the organizational capacity to run the facility effectively, community need, and the availability of other funding sources. 

The BCF program also received clarification on two elements of the act:

1. An applicant can qualify for funding consideration by demonstrating that a proposed project will offer three or more distinct activities that meet a single community service objective.
2. No more than an additional 10% of the total granted amount may be awarded to projects that meet "exceptional circumstances."  Exceptional circumstances (under which the Department of Commerce may reduce the amount on non-state match required of an applicant), is defined as: a delay that could result in a public health or safety threat; or instances where a community can quantifiably demonstrate exhaustion of all fundraising efforts.

The BCF program was created by the Legislature in 2008 (RCW 43.163A.125) to provide a means of identifying qualified community and social service capital projects, and providing capital support to nonprofit agencies and their partners to develop or improve these facilities.  These investments will play a key role in improving the economic, social, and educational climate in distressed communities and other areas that serve low-income persons.

WHAT WE DO:

This program awards state grants to nonprofit, community-based organizations to defray up to 25 percent or more of eligible capital costs to acquire, construct, or rehabilitate nonresidential community and social service centers.  There is no minimum or maximum grant award amount.

• 2009 BCF Grant Guidelines      
• 2009 BCF Grant Application    
• LEED Certification Declaration form

This is a reimbursement-style grant. Operating costs are ineligible.  The grants are funded by the sale of state bonds (no federal funds are involved).  Awardees are selected through a grant application process held every year.  Applicant projects must be located in a "distressed community" or serve a substantial number of low-income or disadvantaged persons.  Please click on the links below to see if your project is eligible to apply; please note that you must only meet "one" of the below criteria to be considered eligible.

APPLICANT ELIGIBILITY LINKS: 

• Eligible counties
• New Market Tax Credit Census Tract
• Eligible school districts
• Poverty level guidelines
• Social and economic disadvantaged determinations

Note that awardees cannot begin drawing down their grant until all funds needed to complete the project have been committed.  Awardees may also be required to pay state prevailing wages for all construction labor, comply with the high-performance building law, and Executive Order #05-05.

WHO TO CONTACT:  

For more information, contact Capital Programs staff.

Send an e-mail to Capital Programs with your name and address if you’d like to be put on our mailing and/or e-mail distribution lists. 

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