PDC changes grant-funding process
By Terry Murry on Thursday, October 20th, 2022 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
PENDLETON – The Pendleton Development Commission is changing the way it gives grants. The governing body for the urban renewal area has been discussing changes to the process for several months. Mayor John Turner says the reason is that the grants are in high demand.
“In the past we had no cap on a grant that could be up to 40 percent of a project,” Turner said. “But we’ve got so many projects coming in, people requesting grants from us, that we don’t have enough money to fund them all.”
Turner said the PDC, which is comprised of the members of the city council, decided it would be better to fund several projects than one big one a year.
“Discussions, recommendations over the last several months were that we cut the grants to 25 percent of a project and, not only that, but that we cap the grant at $250,000.” Turner said.
The PDC approved that at its Tuesday meeting and also approved having set windows for applications for the various grants, instead of entities being able to apply at any time. In addition there is a clause that will allow the PDC to waive the grant cap if the project justifies that. The commission will watch closely to see the impact the new rules have.
“If it turns out that this is not working a year from now, we can always re-examine it,” Turner said.
