Defense Community Compatibility Account

Key Topics

Enacted in the 2019 legislative session, Substitute Senate Bill 5748 creates the Defense Community Compatibility Account (DCCA) to support necessary infrastructure near Washington military installations. The purpose of the account is to provide funds for compatible development projects that affect the economy, environment, or quality of life opportunities for local communities. A factsheet on the program is available.

Grant Application Available

Commerce is soliciting applications for projects that promote compatible development near military installations in Washington.
Application window: Sept. 3 – Nov. 1, 2019
DCCA Program Guidelines
DCCA Grant Application

The 2019 application window marks the initial program solicitation opportunity, with a call for DCCA pilot projects. Future project solicitations will take place on a biennial basis, allowing future application opportunities. Applicants that choose to reapply, will be subject to any new program guidelines developed and a reprioritization process for project list development.

Question and Answer period: Sept. 3 – Sept. 27, 2019

A question and answer period allows applicants to clarify information related to the application and review process. A document including all questions received will be provided on the program webpage with new questions and answers provided throughout the Q & A period. Questions may be submitted via email to the program manager. A complete application guide including instructions, important dates and additional information will be available by
September 3, 2019

DCCA Questions and Answers through September 16, 2019

Program Eligibility

Applicants must be one of the following:

  • A local government or
  • An entity that has an agreement with a Washington State military installation under the US Department of Defense (DOD) Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration (REPI) program for purposes to address incompatible development. 

All projects must:

  • Be located in the state of Washington,
  • Support necessary infrastructure near military installations and address incompatible development near connected to Washington military installations, and
  • Address land development and military operations that impact the economy, environment, or quality of life opportunities for local communities.

Grant Award Match

SSB 5748 requires that local and federal funds be committed to the same purposes or project as funding awarded from the state account. 

Project applications should include a detailed cost estimate with the total state, federal, and other funding sources needed to cover total project costs. Applicants also need to provide documentation of the total leveraged matching funds available to support the project from applicant/local and federal sources. 

Match may include:

  • Local or applicant funds
  • Federal funds
  • In-kind services

Project Ranking

Projects will be evaluated based on the following categories:

  • Need and Priority
  • Leveraged Funds
  • Project Scope
  • Readiness to Proceed
  • Organizational Capacity

Bonus points awarded for:

  • Recommendations of the US DOD Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) processes, Joint Land Use Studies (JLUS), or other federally initiated land use processes including the US DOD Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration (REPI) Program.
  • Whether a branch of the US Armed Forces identified the project as increasing the viability of military installations for current or future missions.
  • Applications accompanied by expressed support from nonprofit community or neighborhood-based organizations, public development authorities, federally recognized Indian Tribes in the state, or other community partners.

Example Projects

  • Acquisition of real property or real property interests to eliminate an existing incompatible use.
  • 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 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.
  • 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.

Program Components and Phases

Commerce must provide an initial prioritized project list to the Legislature by Jan. 1, 2020. To meet this deadline, Commerce will implement the Defense Community Compatibility Account using a phased approach.

The first phase includes a call for pilot projects to initiate the program. Starting in 2020, the second phase will roll-out with broader and more extensive program development, including the formation of a stakeholder community advisory commission, additional project scoping and planning, development of permanent objective project ranking criteria, and further refinement of ongoing program messaging, outreach and engagement efforts, including opportunity for public hearings.

Phase two implements all statutory elements listed in SSB 5748 and will serve as the foundation for program standards going forward. Project application opportunities will take place on a biennial basis. Commerce will submit the second legislative report to the Legislature by Jan. 1, 2022.

Additionally, Commerce may adopt rules to implement statutory elements of the program.

Program Outreach

Commerce recognizes the importance of community and stakeholder input for effective project solicitation and implementation. Ongoing outreach will be 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 will be announced throughout the program outreach schedule.

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Need Help?

Genevieve Dial
Program Manager, DCCA
Senior Planner
gen.dial@commerce.wa.gov
(509) 675-5508