Commerce announces $400,000 in grants for 17 rural planning projects
Funding supports essential planning to guide future rural community development.
The Washington State Department of Commerce today announced nearly $400,000 in Community Development Block Grants to 17 rural cities and counties. The grants, ranging from $18,000 to $24,000, will fund crucial plans and feasibility studies for new or improved water and wastewater systems, community centers, food banks, and fire safety facilities across the state.
“These grants will help communities collect and evaluate information needed to move forward on essential local improvements,” said Kendee Yamaguchi, Commerce Assistant Director for Local Government and Infrastructure.
Town of Cusick – $24,000 for food bank study
Town of Northport — $24,000 for small water system management program
Town of Pe Ell — $24,000 for water system plan update
Town of Washtucna — $24,000 for source water investigation
Town of Harrah — $24,000 for wastewater treatment evaluation
Town of Twisp — $24,000 for water system plan update
City of Entiat — $24,000 for community center feasibility study
City of Morton — $18,000 for industrial user survey and sewer use ordinance
City of Newport — $22,000 for water system plan update
City of Pateros — $24,000 for source water investigation
City of Soap Lake — $24,000 for sewer improvement plan
City of Sprague — $24,000 for wastewater system plan
City of Walla Walla — $24,000 for community youth center feasibility study
Kittitas County — $24,000 for water system plan update for Water District No. 7
Pacific County — $24,000 for water system plan update for the Chinook Water District
Skagit County — $24,000 for housing affordability strategy or affordable housing strategy
Yakima County — $24,000 for facility feasibility study for the Nile-Cliffdell Fire District
Over $615,000 was requested from the competitively awarded planning-only grants program administered by Commerce. This state program receives funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to provide grants to small cities (under 50,000 population) and rural counties (under 200,000 population) for activities that benefit lower income people. Larger cities and counties receive their own grant allocation directly from HUD. Since 1982, the state Community Development Block Grant program has awarded more than $457 million for construction of water, sewer, streets and other local infrastructure; community facilities such as health centers and childcare centers; housing rehabilitation projects for low-income households; loans and technical assistance to local micro-enterprises; and the development of plans and studies aimed at enhancing the success of future projects.
For more information on the Community Development Block Grant program, please visit www.commerce.wa.gov/cdbg.