NEWS RELEASE: $10 million in federal development grants awarded to 22 rural Washington communities
Grants from $20,000 to $750,000 will fund vital local projects throughout the state
OLYMPIA, Wash. – The Washington State Department of Commerce announced that 22 cities and counties will receive a total of more than $10 million in Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) for 2016. The 22 projects were selected from 28 grant applications requesting over $14 million. They will improve rural water, sewer and fire protection systems; support affordable housing; and complete community planning.
“These grants will help rural areas in every corner of Washington to innovate and diversify,” Gov. Jay Inslee said. “I look forward to seeing how these counties, cities and towns use these resources to strengthen their communities.”
“These grants strengthen communities by helping address the diverse needs of rural areas – from priority infrastructure to affordable housing and economic development,” said Commerce Director Brian Bonlender. “Commerce works with local government leaders to target strategic investments that will support the goals and aspirations of their communities and the people who live, work and raise families there.”
2016 Washington State Community Development Block Grant Awards:
· Asotin County – $750,000 for fire station improvements
· Town of Concrete – $586,280 for sewer system improvements
· Cowlitz County – $217,590 for a housing rehabilitation program
· Cowlitz County – $79,584 for public housing improvements
· Town of Cusick – $750,000 for water treatment plant improvements
· City of Entiat – $24,000 for a community facility feasibility study
· Franklin County – $750,000 for water system improvements in Basin City
· City of Kahlotus – $741,300 for water system improvements
· City of Kahlotus – $20,000 for a community facility feasibility study
· Town of Northport – $678,000 for new well construction
· Town of Odessa – $693,000 for water system improvements
· Okanogan County – $500,000 for a housing rehabilitation program
· Town of Reardan – $719,600 for water system improvements
· Town of Rosalia – $24,000 for a wastewater facility plan update
· San Juan County – $562,672 for acquisition to construct affordable housing
· Skagit County – $24,000 for an aerospace training facility plan
· City of Soap Lake – $24,000 for a park and recreation capital improvement plan
· City of South Bend – $750,000 for water system improvements
· City of Sprague – $650,000 for sewer system improvements
· City of Tieton – $23,462 for an economic development plan
· City of Winlock – $750,000 for water system improvements
· City of Westport – $697,600 for sewer system improvements
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 $497 million in grants to over 1,376 locally prioritized community development projects. CDBG will partner with other state, federal, local and private resources to leverage over $15 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.
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Contact: Penny Thomas, Commerce Media Relations, 206-256-6106