WA distributes community development grants
By Terry Murry on Friday, September 17th, 2021 in Columbia Basin News Columbia Basin Top Stories
OLYMPIA – The Washington State Department of Commerce Thursday announced grants for vital infrastructure projects in several rural communities for 2021. More than $11.4 million in Community Development Block Grants will be going to 20 rural cities, towns, and counties.
Grants include more than $2.6 million to fund critical fire and emergency facility projects in Colville, Malden, and Republic, all communities struggling with the impact and severity of wildfires. In Colville, $900,000 will go for fire and emergency facility upgrades with Stevens County Fire District No. 3. In Malden, $900,00 will go for a fire station and $30,000 for outdoor recreation planning. In Republic, $850,000 for EMS station construction with Ferry County EMS District No. 1.
In College Place, $341,184 will go for SafeWalk College Place sidewalk construction.
“We do get inquiries about sidewalk prioritization,” College Place City Administrator Mike Rizzitiello said. “The city in and of itself does not have a direct funding mechanism for new sidewalks. We must pursue grants to construct new sidewalks.”
The Community Development Block Grant will pay for engineering and construction for six-foot-wide concrete sidewalk on the north side of Southwest Sixth Street from South College Avenue to Southwest Davis Street and Southwest Eighth Street from South College Avenue to Southwest Bade Avenue.
“We thank Walla Walla University for donating right-of-way to make this happen,” Rizzitiello added.
In Washtucna, $895,000 will go for well improvements.
