Mental Health Matters Grant Program

The Washington State Department of Commerce is offering the 2025-27 Youth Recreational Facilities (YRF) grant program. This program aims to award state grants to Tribes and nonprofit youth-oriented organizations to cover eligible capital costs for acquiring, constructing, or rehabilitating projects that provide recreational opportunities for K-12 youth. The core mission of this grant program is to enhance youth well-being and development by improving access to quality recreational facilities. The target beneficiaries of this program are K-12 youth, with an emphasis on projects that serve their recreational needs. The impact goals are to support the creation or improvement of nonresidential youth recreational facilities and ensure these facilities also offer programmatic social and/or educational services on-site. This approach ensures a holistic development environment for young people. The program prioritizes projects that involve the construction, renovation, or acquisition and major renovation of nonresidential youth recreational facilities. Additionally, the acquisition of bare land must be accompanied by the construction or renovation of a usable facility. Key focuses for applicants include demonstrating a dedication to youth-related activities, agreeing to LEED certification processes or exemptions, and committing to state prevailing wages. Expected outcomes include an increase in the number of high-quality recreational facilities available to youth across Washington State. Measurable results will likely involve the number of projects funded, the total capital costs reimbursed, and the successful completion of projects that meet the specified eligibility and programmatic requirements. The maximum grant award is $1,200,000 for the 2025-2027 biennium, indicating a strategic priority to support significant capital projects that can make a substantial impact on youth recreational infrastructure.