Funds go to health care providers in Monroe, Tacoma, Sunnyside and Olympia The Washington State Department of Commerce today announced $4.84 million in grants to four health care providers to develop additional facilities for short-term inpatient psychiatric detention services. The state’s investment is supported with approximately $3 million more from other funding sources. The grant recipients are: • Fairfax Behavioral Health – Monroe, $880,000 • Making a Difference in Community – Tacoma, $1.32 million…

Funds will support nearly 500 units of affordable housing, and more than 375 beds for low-income people in need OLYMPIA, WA – The Washington State Department of Commerce today awarded $35.1 million in loans and grants from the Housing Trust Fund for 21 affordable housing projects in 23 counties across the state. Projects funded will provide a total of 499 units of affordable housing for low-income households, as well as 312 beds…

Federal SunShot Initiative funding expands efforts to reduce the cost of installing solar systems OLYMPIA, WA – The Washington State Department of Commerce received a $2 million award from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) SunShot Initiative to make rooftop solar installations easier, faster and less expensive for residents of Washington and Oregon. The funding will remove hurdles for solar photovoltaic installers across the two states, and increase financing options…

Funds go to higher education institutions across Washington The Washington State Department of Commerce today announced nearly $8 million in grants to create jobs and to help seven higher education institutions lower their energy costs. An estimated 121 jobs will be created by construction spending on these projects. The total cost for all the projects is about $15 million, including more than $6 million in non-state funding. Commerce’s Energy Efficiency Grant program’s immediate goal…

Grants range from $285,500 to $1 million for vital community improvements throughout the state OLYMPIA, WA – The Washington State Department of Commerce announced 14 cities and counties to receive a total of more than $9 million in Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) for 2013. The 14 projects were selected from 34 grant applications requesting more than $23 million. They will improve rural water, sewer and street systems; support affordable housing; and…

Programs in six counties and 10 tribal communities will increase broadband access and use in the next year. Broadband advocates in six counties and 10 tribal communities will spend the next year improving access and increasing broadband use in their part of the state.  The five Local Technology Planning Teams will begin work this month thanks to $300,000 in grant money awarded by the Washington State Broadband Office of the…

Community and region-wide broadband planning efforts get an assist from new grant funds available through the Washington State Broadband Office. The Washington State Department of Commerce today announced that applications are available for the 2013 Local Technology Planning Team grant program. The grants awards will range from $50,000 to $100,000 and are part of the work of Commerce’s Washington State Broadband Office. This is the second year of the grant program and last…

Funds go to higher education institutions and local governments across Washington OLYMPIA, WA – Governor Jay Inslee today announced nearly $18 million in grants to create jobs and to lower energy costs for 12 higher education institutions and 37 local governments. An estimated 543 jobs will be created by this construction spending. The total cost for all the projects is more than $66 million, including more than $48 million in…

Essential planning funded to guide future rural community development. Olympia, WA – The Washington State Department of Commerce today announced nearly $500,000 in Community Development Block Grants to 21 rural cities and counties. The grants, ranging from $22,000 to $24,000, will fund crucial development plans for new or improved water and wastewater systems, community centers, growth management plans and feasibility studies across the state. Town of Almira – $24,000 for water system…

Part of HUD & HHS initiative to provide permanent, supportive housing to prevent homelessness or institutionalization of the low-income disabled SEATTLE – The Washington State Department of Commerce (“Commerce”) has been awarded $5,580,280 to provide project-based rental assistance to up to 275 units for extremely low income people with disabilities as part of a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services effort…