08/04/08

As we announced in May, the Washington State Department of Community, Trade, and Economic Development (CTED) is launching a new capital facilities funding program, called “Building Communities”. The Building Communities Fund awards state grants to nonprofit, community-based organizations to defray up to 25 percent of eligible capital costs to acquire, construct, or rehabilitate nonresidential community or social service centers. Eligible projects must meet the following ten criteria specified by the Legislature:

(i) Will increase the range, efficiency, or quality of the services provided to citizens;

(ii) Will be located in a distressed community or will serve a substantial number of low-income or disadvantaged persons;

(iii) Will offer a diverse set of activities that meet multiple community service objectives, including but not limited to: Providing social services; expanding employment opportunities for or increasing the employability of community residents; or offering educational or recreational opportunities separate from the public school system or private schools, as long as recreation is not the sole purpose of the facility;

(iv) Reflects a long-term vision for the development of the community, shared by residents, businesses, leaders, and partners;

(v) Requires state funding to accomplish a discrete, usable phase of the project;

(vi) Is ready to proceed and will make timely use of the funds;

(vii) Is sponsored by one or more entities that have the organizational and financial capacity to fulfill the terms of the grant agreement and to maintain the project into the future;

(viii) Fills an unmet need for community services;

(ix) Will achieve its stated objectives; and

(x) Is a community priority as shown through tangible commitments of existing or future assets made to the project by community residents, leaders, businesses, and government partners.

Application materials will be available the week of August 18, with workshops in both eastern and western Washington to follow two weeks later. The anticipated due date is September 26. At SparrowHawk, we can help you determine how your programs may be eligible for these funds. Call us at 1-800-398-9048, or send an email to info@sparrowhawkco.com, for more information.

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