Defense Community Compatibility Account
The 2019 Legislature created the Defense Community Compatibility Account with to support necessary infrastructure and support compatible land use and infrastructure near military installations in Washington. The program provides a framework for evaluating and prioritizing projects that enhance the economy, environment and quality of life opportunities for local communities affected by the presence of military installations.
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Program Summary
The Defense Community Compatibility Account (DCCA) directs Commerce to evaluate numerous civilian-military land use projects and submit a list to the Legislature of projects ready to address compatibility issues. With the development of this program, Washington joins 19 other states that provide funding opportunities to promote compatibility between the military and their host communities.
DCCA promotes land use compatibility between communities and military installations by providing a consistent and programmatic framework for soliciting and evaluating civilian-military compatibility projects. Project solicitation and evaluations help identify and prioritize needs from numerous communities that are affected by military activities. Additionally, it facilitates coordination between military installation commanders and local government planners by providing a funding mechanism for the implementation of compatible land use solutions.
2024 Project Application Window Open
The 2024 DCCA project application window is open through September 13, 2024. Please contact Mike Cahill, program manager, for application materials.
Program materials
2022 Project Solicitation
The program’s call for civilian-military compatibility projects elicited 15 submittals. These diverse projects range from construction and property acquisition to habitat restoration and downtown revitalization. The table below shows all 15 application rankings requesting $36.67 million in state funding. The detailed list of prioritized projects, including secured funding totals, is available in the Legislative report (PDF).
2022 Prioritized Project List:
Rank Name DCCA funding request Required federal match secured Secured DCCA Funding
1 City of Lakewood, McChord North Clear Zone $900,000 Yes Yes
2 Whidbey Camano Land Trust, Keystone Preserve $1.3M Yes Yes
3 Lakewood Water District, Water Well (K-3, G-4) $3.72M Yes Yes
4 Lakewood Water District, Water Well (Hipkins) $2.84M No No
5 Lakewood Water District, Water Well (Oakbrook 0-2) $2.84M No No
6 Lakewood Water District, Water Well (Oakbrook 0-3) $2.84M No No
7 Compatible Lands Foundation, Fairchild REPI Easement Acquisition Program $2.5M Yes Yes
8 Oak Harbor School District, Hand-in-Hand Early Learning Center $13.9M Yes Yes
9 City of Bremerton, Quincy Square Civic Improvements $1.75M Yes Yes
10 Oak Harbor School District, Crescent Elementary $13.6M Yes Yes
11 Thurston County, Habitat Conservation Land Acquisition $8M No No
12 Great Peninsula Conservancy, Green Mountain Compatibility Protection $3.61M No No
13 City of Airway Heights, APZ Backfill Prevention $3.47M No No
14 Port of Everett, Destination Retail Waterfront $500,000 No No
15 City of Airway Heights, Downtown Business Empowerment Program $305,000 No No
Total request: $37.67M Total local and federal match: $126.17M
DCCA’s enabling legislation requires federal funding be committed before state funding is awarded. Because this is a biennial program and many applicants have federal grant applications under review, applicants awaiting potential federal funding awards were encouraged to apply. Projects with federal funding secured by September 2023, may be identified in agency budget decision requests for the 2024 supplemental budget. Program staff may provide assistance in the identification of federal funding opportunities for those projects in need of federal match.
The full list will be submitted to the Legislature in the 2022 DCCA report. The priority list has been submitted as recommended civilian-military land use priority projects in Commerce’s 2023-25 capital budget request to the governor. Funding is by legislative appropriation.
DCCA Program History
The year 2019 marked the program’s initial application window, formally soliciting applications for projects that promote compatible development near military installations in Washington. The list of projects was submitted to the Legislature in the 2019 DCCA Legislative Report in January, 2020.
Enabling legislation: Substitute Senate Bill 5748
Project Guidelines:
A wide variety of compatibility-related projects are eligible for the program, including the following list of project activities per SSB 5748.
- Projects to jointly assist in the recovery or protection of endangered species dependent on military installation property for habitat.
- Projects or programs to increase the availability of housing affordable to enlisted military personnel and nonmilitary residents in the local community.
- Projects to retrofit existing uses to increase their compatibility with existing or future military operations.
- Projects that aid communities to replace jobs lost in the event of a reduction of the military presence.
- Projects that improve or enhance aspects of the local economy, environment, or quality of life impacted by the presence of military activities.
- Projects to enable local communities heavily dependent on a nearby military installation to diversify the local economy so as to reduce the economic dependence on the military base.
Applicants must be local governments, federally recognized Indian tribes or other entities in an agreement with a state military installation under the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration Program.
Program Outreach
Commerce recognizes the importance of community and stakeholder input for effective project solicitation and implementation. Ongoing outreach is conducted with a variety of representatives from federal agencies, U.S. department of defense installations in Washington, federally recognized Indian tribes in the state, city, county and state governments, associations, advocacy and nonprofit organizations, elected officials, neighborhood-based organizations, public development authorities, and other interested parties. Opportunity for engagement is announced throughout the program outreach schedule.
DCCA Legislative Reports
Contact
Mike Cahill
Program Manager
Email: Mike.Cahill@commerce.wa.gov
Phone: 564-669-4931