Washington grants for County governments

Our Water Quality Combined Funding Program is an integrated funding program for projects that improve and protect water quality throughout the state. The program combines grants and loans from state and federal funding sources. We also provide technical assistance to program applicants to help them navigate this process. We have one combined funding cycle, one application, one competitive rating process, and one list of funding offers. Applicants submit just one application for all of the funding sources under the Water Quality Combined Funding Program. Amount of funding available: Varies based on the state budget — ranges from $100 million to $200 million annually. Grant award limit: Varies depending on funding source and project type. See the current funding year guidelines below for more information. Amount of matching funds required: Depends on the funding source you receive, can be up to 25 percent match required.

Forestland preservation grants provide funding to lease or buy voluntary land preservation agreements (also called conservation easements) for forests to ensure they remain available for timber production in the future. Grant recipients also may use some of the funding to restore habitats in forests. The program is part of the larger Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program, which was created in 1990 to conserve land for outdoor recreation and wildlife, to keep pace with a growing population. In 2016, the Legislature expanded the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program to include preservation of forestland with the goal of supporting working forests that also provide habitat for wildlife, environmental benefits, and public access.

This grant provides funding to various organizations, including governments and nonprofits, to restore and protect aquatic ecosystems and water resources in Oregon and Washington, promoting climate resilience and public benefits.

The Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office administers the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program to acquire recreation and habitat lands and to develop recreation areas for the state’s growing population. The program supports local and state parks, trails, water access, and restoration on state lands to enhance public outdoor recreation. Funding is available across categories such as Local Parks acquisition and development, State Lands development and renovation, and Water Access and Trails in accordance with program rules. Typical projects include buying land for parks, developing athletic complexes, renovating community parks, building regional trails and waterfront facilities, and developing state lands. Local Parks awards may reach 1,000,000 dollars for acquisition or combination projects, with up to 500,000 dollars for development costs, and 500,000 dollars for development only. State Lands development and renovation awards range from 25,000 to 325,000 dollars. Eligible applicants vary by category and include cities, counties, towns, federally recognized tribes, special purpose and port districts, and state agencies as specified in the program guidance. Eligible costs include land acquisition through perpetual or long term interests and a wide range of development features such as buildings, campgrounds, play areas, restrooms, roads and paths, and interpretive elements, subject to category rules. Applications are submitted through the state’s process by May 1, 2024. Grant duration is not stated. Proposals are assessed for alignment with category requirements and public benefit. Official information is available from the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office.

The Byrne Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Washington Innovation Fund is a program designed to enhance Washington state's criminal legal system by supporting innovative, sustainable, and data-driven practices. Its overarching goals are to improve community safety, foster collaboration among various sectors, and provide support to victims and individuals involved in the criminal legal system. This aligns with a foundational mission of creating a fair and equitable criminal legal system in Washington that prioritizes these critical areas. The program draws on the Edward Byrne Memorial JAG program, a significant federal source of criminal justice funding, administered by the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), which provides essential resources to state and local jurisdictions for system improvement and community advancement. The target beneficiaries of the JAG Innovation Fund include local governments and private community-based or non-profit agencies that are working to improve the criminal legal system. The program aims to impact community safety directly, enhance support for victims, and strengthen cross-sector collaboration and collective accountability within the system. Ultimately, the expected outcomes include the implementation of more effective and data-informed stewardship of criminal legal system resources, leading to a more just and safer Washington. The JAG Innovation Fund focuses on several key priorities for funding, including organizational or program capacity building, supporting new ideas, projects, or promising practices, enhancing system and community collaborations, and expanding or supplementing existing programs or practices. The program identifies nine specific Purpose Areas to allow for diverse and flexible criminal legal system improvement projects. These areas range from Planning, Evaluation and Technology Improvement to Crime Victim Programming, Support and Advocacy, Community Safety Enhancement, and Corrections, Community Corrections and Re-Entry, among others. Approximately $1,000,000 of JAG funding is dedicated to the Innovation Fund each award cycle, with individual project awards supporting proposals up to $150,000. The funding period for projects is from November 1, 2024, to December 31, 2025. To ensure accountability and community relevance, non-governmental applicants must provide one or more letters of support from a local government unit in the project's jurisdiction, explaining the proposed program's benefits to the local government agency and jurisdiction. This requirement underscores the program's strategic priority of fostering robust community and governmental partnerships as a theory of change for sustainable criminal legal system improvements.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to various organizations, including cities, counties, and nonprofit shooting groups, for the acquisition, development, and renovation of firearm and archery training facilities to improve public access and safety.

The Construction Loan Program focuses on the activities that repair, replace, or create a facility. A construction loan project may comprise any combination of pre-construction and construction elements. The Public Works Board awarded funding for its most recent construction cycle at its September 8, 2023 meeting. View the full list of awardees and applicants in Box. The Board anticipates opening its next construction funding cycle in Spring 2024. The Public Works Board (Board) is authorized by state statute (RCW 43.155). Its purpose is to loan and grant money to counties, cities, and special purpose districts to repair, replace, or create infrastructure.

The Green Transportation Capital Grant Program, administered by the Washington State Department of Transportation, aims to fund cost-effective capital projects for transit authorities. Its core mission is to reduce the carbon intensity of Washington's transportation system, aligning with broader climate action efforts supported by the state's Climate Commitment Act (CCA). The CCA's strategic priority is to decrease climate pollution, create jobs, and enhance public health, making this grant a direct mechanism to achieve these goals by investing in sustainable transportation solutions. The primary beneficiaries of this program are transit agencies within Washington state, including various city, county, metropolitan, public, unincorporated, regional, and special purpose district transit systems. The impact goals are centered on transforming public transportation infrastructure to be more environmentally friendly. This includes the electrification of transit vehicle fleets and the development of necessary supporting infrastructure, such as charging and fueling stations, and associated electrical system upgrades. The program prioritizes capital projects that directly contribute to fleet electrification and the transition to zero-emission transportation. Eligible projects encompass the acquisition of battery and fuel cell-operated electric vehicles, modification of facilities for electrification or hydrogen refueling, and the construction of new facilities that primarily support electrified fleets. Additionally, it covers essential upgrades to electrical transmission and distribution systems, in-house staff managing capital construction, and property rights acquisition for these projects. The expected outcomes and measurable results include a significant reduction in carbon emissions from the Washington transportation sector, directly contributing to the state's climate goals. Historically, the program has awarded between $12 million and $50 million per biennium, indicating a substantial investment in achieving these outcomes. The project period for most applications is two years (July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2027), with construction projects potentially extending to four years, allowing for tangible progress in transitioning to green transportation.

The LOCAL program provides Washington municipalities with a cost-effective way to finance equipment and/or real estate projects. Participants will benefit from the current program rating of Moody’s Aa1, low fees and expenses, technical assistance, and access to the tax-exempt bond market. The LOCAL Program allows participants access to the national tax-exempt market through a competitive bid process, regardless of the size of their financing contract • By pooling with the State’s Aa1 rated COP issuances, LOCAL participants are able to take advantage of the State’s very low tax-exempt interest rates

The Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office administers the Farmland Preservation Grant program to purchase development rights on farmland so that it remains available for agriculture into the future. The program is part of the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program and was expanded by the Legislature in 2005 to include significant farmland preservation. Funding supports acquisition of conservation easements and related incidental costs, along with eligible enhancement and restoration that improve agricultural viability, and stewardship planning. Typical projects acquire easements on farmland threatened by development. Enhancement and restoration elements may not exceed one half of total acquisition costs including match, and farm stewardship plans may not exceed 10,000 dollars. Eligible applicants include cities, counties, nonprofit nature conservancy corporations or associations, and the State Conservation Commission. Ineligible activities include short term rights under 25 years, acquisition of land already owned by government, property obtained through condemnation, consumable supplies except for a one time application as part of restoration, elements not considered fixtures or capital items, cleanup of illegal activities, indoor facilities, operating or overhead expenses, purchase of maintenance equipment or supplies, restoration conducted before grant agreement, and transfer of development rights. Applications are due May 1, 2024 through the state’s process. Grant limits are not otherwise specified. Further details are available from the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office.

This program provides funding to municipalities, park districts, tribes, and nonprofits in Pierce County to preserve open spaces and enhance community recreational areas.

The 2025 Pierce County Historic Preservation Grant Program, funded by Pierce County in Washington, offers $10,000 to $100,000 for projects that preserve and promote the county's historical and cultural heritage, including the protection, rehabilitation, or reconstruction of significant structures or sites, and the preservation or interpretation of historically significant artifacts and documents.

The Tourism and Cultural Investment Grant Program, offered by the City of Spokane, is designed to significantly enhance the city's tourism and cultural environment. The program's core mission is to promote cultural diversity, support various forms of cultural investment, and foster new opportunities for tourism and cultural enrichment within Spokane. This directly aligns with a broader objective of enriching the community and attracting visitors through vibrant cultural and recreational offerings. The primary beneficiaries of this grant program are organizations, including non-profit, for-profit, and public agencies, that are actively involved in projects, programs, events, and facilities promoting tourism and cultural investment. The impact goals are centered on creating a more diverse and appealing cultural landscape, drawing more tourists, and ultimately boosting the local economy and quality of life for residents. The program prioritizes projects that contribute to cultural activities such as sports, arts, street/park festivals, film, culinary events, and music. This broad scope ensures that a wide array of cultural expressions can receive support, reflecting a strategic focus on comprehensive cultural development. The emphasis is on initiatives that can tangibly demonstrate their capacity to enhance Spokane's appeal as a cultural and tourist destination. Expected outcomes include an increase in diverse cultural events and attractions, a rise in tourism figures, and greater engagement from both residents and visitors in cultural activities. Measurable results would likely involve tracking the number and type of projects funded, attendance at cultural events, and economic indicators related to tourism. The City of Spokane's strategic priorities, as evidenced by this grant, involve leveraging cultural and tourism assets for community development and economic growth. The underlying theory of change appears to be that by strategically investing in cultural and tourism initiatives, the city can create a self-reinforcing cycle of cultural vibrancy, increased visitor numbers, and economic prosperity. By supporting a diverse range of cultural endeavors, the program aims to build a more dynamic and attractive city, thereby achieving its overarching goals of cultural enrichment and economic development. These grants, ranging from $5,000 to $10,000, serve as catalytic investments to achieve these broader strategic objectives.

This funding opportunity provides financial support for conservation projects aimed at protecting and recovering endangered and threatened species across the United States, targeting eligible applicants such as state and local governments, educational institutions, tribal organizations, and nonprofits.

This initiative provides funding and support to nonprofit organizations, local governments, and Tribal governments in coal-impacted communities to develop and scale innovative economic projects that create job opportunities and foster local economic transformation.

This grant provides funding to cities, counties, and public utility districts in Washington to improve water, sewer, and stormwater infrastructure for affordable housing projects that include at least 25% affordable units.

This funding opportunity provides financial support for conservation projects that engage and develop career skills for youth aged 16–30, with a focus on underserved communities and collaboration with tribal organizations.

The City of Fort Collins and the Department of Neighborhood Services offer neighborhood grants to foster positive neighboring activities and community improvements. These grants provide financial assistance to encourage community resiliency by fulfilling needs identified by neighbors through solutions developed by neighbors. The program aligns with the City's mission to bring people together, serve underrepresented communities, and promote sustainable choices. The target beneficiaries for these grants include residents, residents associations, homeowners associations, and nonprofits within Fort Collins city boundaries. The impact goals are to strengthen community connections, enhance neighborhood environments, and empower residents to address local challenges collaboratively. The program prioritizes projects that encourage creative ideas to improve neighborhoods and foster connections between neighbors. While the specific "Foundation's strategic priorities and theory of change" are not explicitly detailed as a separate entity, the grant program itself serves as a strategic initiative of the City of Fort Collins and its Department of Neighborhood Services. Their theory of change appears to be that by providing financial assistance and encouraging neighbor-led solutions, they can build stronger, more resilient communities. Expected outcomes include a variety of community improvements, ranging from cleanup events and community gardens to sustainable block parties. Measurable results would be evidenced by the successful implementation of diverse projects that enhance neighborhood life and promote neighbor-to-neighbor engagement. The funding range of $150-$1000 also provides a framework for the scale of these community-led initiatives.

This grant provides funding to organizations that will educate students and families in the Poverty Bay Shellfish Protection District about reducing fecal pollution through community outreach and culturally relevant materials.

The Legislature created the Transportation Improvement Board to foster state investment in quality local transportation projects. The TIB distributes grant funding, which comes from the revenue generated by three cents of the statewide gas tax, to cities and counties for funding transportation projects. TIB's grant programs are catagorized by the type of customer agency each program is intended to serve. TIB typically issues a call for projects each June for the next year's funding program. The TIB application process follows these steps: Decide which TIB Funding programs your agency is eligible for. Download the appropriate funding application and complete a separate application for each project you want to be considered for funding. Funding applications are made available in June. Submit/postmark your application by the application due date - typically near the end of August. TIB engineering staff will begin reviewing and scoring all applications in September. TIB uses a priority array process for each funding program to identify projects that best meet the intent of the program. Criteria are developed by the Board in cooperation with local agencies. TIB staff present a list of recommended projects to the board at the November meeting. If your project is selected, you will be contacted by TIB engineering staff about what steps to take next.