$10 million in grants awarded to 23 rural Washington communities

Grants from $24,000 to $750,000 will fund vital local projects throughout the state

OLYMPIA, Wash. – The Washington State Department of Commerce announced that 23 cities and counties will receive a total of more than $10 million in Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) for 2017. More than two dozen projects were selected from 37 grant applications requesting over $18 million. These grants are used to improve rural water, sewer, street and fire protection systems, support affordable housing and community planning.

“These infrastructure investments in our communities are crucial to support and sustain healthy local economies that work for all Washingtonians,” Gov. Jay Inslee said.

“These grants will help strengthen rural communities by addressing a diverse range of essential needs, from priority infrastructure to affordable housing and economic development,” said Commerce Director Brian Bonlender. “Commerce works closely with local government leaders to target strategic investments that will best support immediate needs and vision for the future of their communities.”

2017 Washington State Community Development Block Grant Awards:

  • Town of Almira – $750,000 for water system improvements
  • Benton County – $750,000 for water system improvements
  • City of Cle Elum – $24,000 for capital facilities comprehensive plan
  • City of Colville – $24,000 for emergency center feasibility plan
  • Cowlitz County – $222,410 for housing rehabilitation program
  • Cowlitz County – $188,707 for public housing rehabilitation program
  • Town of Creston – $24,000 for a wastewater system
  • Town of La Crosse – $24,000 for a water system improvement plan
  • City of Newport – $750,000 for new reservoir, main, and water treatment facility
  • Town of Odessa – $24,000 for a general sewer plan
  • Town of Pe Ell – $750,000 for water system improvements
  • City of Pomeroy – $508,468 for booster pump station and water main replacement
  • Town of Reardan – $24,000 for sewer infiltration and inflow study
  • Town of Rosalia – $734,665 for water mains, service lines, and meter boxes
  • City of Royal City – $580,000 for wastewater disinfection system
  • San Juan County – $436,069 for expansion of Montessori School
  • City of Sprague – $24,000 for flood damage repair plan
  • City of Tekoa – $750,000 for wastewater lift station improvements
  • City of Tonasket – $24,000 for downtown corridor revitalization plan
  • Town of Twisp – $750,000 for civic and community center construction
  • City of Wapato – $750,000 for streets and infrastructure improvements
  • Town of Washtucna – $750,000 for new water well
  • Whatcom County – $500,000 for housing rehabilitation program
  • Whatcom County – $750,000 for medical clinic expansion
  • City of Winlock – $24,000 for culvert replacement plan

    • The state CDBG program receives an annual funding allocation from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and targets assistance to benefit lower income persons in rural areas. Larger cities and counties receive CDBG funding directly from HUD. Since 1982, the state CDBG program has awarded more than $508 million in grants to over 1,418 locally prioritized community development projects. CDBG will partner with other state, federal, local and private resources to leverage over $16 million of project costs. Capital to provide flexible gap funding for these important community projects continues to be under pressure from federal budget reductions. For more detailed information about CDBG, please visit www.commerce.wa.gov/cdbg.

    Press Contact:

    Penny Thomas, penny.thomas@commerce.wa.gov, (206) 256-6106

    Local Contacts:

    Town of Almira – Elinar Larson, (509) 639-2601

    Benton County – Adam Fyall, (509) 736-3053

    City of Cle Elum – Robert Omans, (509) 674-2262

    City of Colville – Louis Janke, (509) 684-5095

    Cowlitz County – Katrina Harris, (360) 577-3065

    Town of Creston – Karen Paulsen, (509) 636-3145

    Town of La Crosse – Randy Camp, (509) 549-3330

    City of Newport – Ray King, (509) 447-5611

    Town of Odessa – Lois Hubbard, (509) 982-2401

    Town of Pe Ell – Lonnie Wiley, (360) 291-3543

    City of Pomeroy – Shaun Martin, (509) 843-1601

    Town of Reardan – Jeff Evers, (509) 796-3921

    Town of Rosalia – Nanette Konishi, (509) 523-5991

    City of Royal City – Shilo Christensen, (509) 346-2263

    San Juan County – Mark Tompkins, (360) 378-7517

    City of Sprague – Christie Saucier, (509) 257-2662

    City of Tekoa – Kynda Browning, (509) 284-3861

    City of Tonasket – Alice Attwood, (509) 486-2132

    Town of Twisp – Jackie Moriarity, (509) 997-4081

    City of Wapato – Gary Potter, (509) 877-3622

    Town of Washtucna – Brian Hille, (509) 646-3253

    Whatcom County – Suzanne Mildner, (360) 778-5200

    City of Winlock – Tedi Curry, (360) 785-3811