OLYMPIA – Projects to upgrade ball fields, to develop places for people to launch their boats for fishing and recreation, and to conserve large swaths of pristine wildlife habitat were some of the more than 230 projects awarded grants by the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Funding Board. The board awarded more than $67.5 million in grants to 234 recreation and conservation projects in 35 of the state’s 39 counties. The grants will be used to build parks and trails and protect important farmland and wildlife habitat. While a few of the grants were awarded in March and May, the majority were awarded last week. “These grants feed right into local communities that have applied for funds to complete long-sought local projects,” said Bill Chapman, chair of the Recreation and Conservation Funding Board. “They create jobs both in the construction of new parks and trails, and through tourism. They help ensure that Washington remains a top notch destination for Washington taxpayers and other visitors who want to hike, hunt, bike, fish and just enjoy the great outdoors.” mfvkvfm8074
Grants were awarded to projects in the following counties. See project details <http://www.rco.wa.gov/documents/press/2011/083-GrantLists.pdf>
Asotin County......................... $4,200,000
Benton County........................ $3,064,342
Chelan County....................... $4,398,255
Clallam County.......................... $343,810
Clark County........................... $1,633,878
Columbia County......................... $30,844
Cowlitz County........................... $479,000
Garfield County............................ $40,000
Grant County.............................. $249,000
Grays Harbor County................ $821,363
Island County.......................... $1,305,122
Jefferson County.................... $3,776,261
King County............................ $5,917,863
Kitsap County.......................... $3,399,642
Kittitas County......................... $3,464,640
Klickitat County.......................... $831,357
Lewis County.............................. $327,600
Mason County......................... $1,736,495
Okanogan County..................... $820,050
Pacific County......................... $4,130,000
Pend Oreille County.................. $100,000
Pierce County......................... $6,498,829
San Juan County......................... $47,525
Skagit County.......................... $3,599,387
Snohomish County................ $1,419,962
Spokane County..................... $3,959,564
Stevens County............................ $26,500
Thurston County..................... $3,022,751
Wahkiakum County.................. $498,000
Walla Walla County..................... $96,000
Whatcom County.................... $1,315,451
Whitman County.......................... $96,000
Yakima County....................... $2,663,449
Statewide................................. $1,085,000
Multiple Counties................... $2,121,062
In all, the board received grant applications for more than 400 projects requesting about $200 million. The grants were reviewed and ranked during the past year. Panels of experts evaluated projects against dozens of different criteria, ranging from the need for a project, to its cost-effectiveness, to how well it was designed, to the level of demonstrated community support.
“The grants are competitive,” Chapman said. “There’s a tremendous need out there and we’re only able to fund about half of the projects requested each year. So the competitive process helps make sure we are funding only the best of the best projects.”
Grant recipients must provide their own matching funds, donated labor and other costs. Grant applicants are investing more than $48 million in matching resources, stretching the state’s limited dollars even further.
“It means the Legislature and local communities are making a significant contribution to ensuring Washington remains a great place for people, families and businesses,” Chapman said.
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