Washington Grants

Airports are vital to Washington state, fueling its economy and providing critical links to the state and national transportation system. WSDOT Aviation has been charged with the general supervision over the Airport Aid Grant Program, pursuant to RCW 47.68 on the legislature website, in which the program provides crucial financial assistance to public-use airports in the preservation of Washington's system of airports. Under RCW 47.68.090, any city, county, airport authority, political subdivision, federally recognized Indian tribe, public corporation, or person(s) that owns and operates, a public-use airport included in the Washington Aviation System Plan (WASP) is considered an eligible airport sponsor and may apply for WSDOT Airport Aid grant funds. The municipality, tribe, or person(s) may act jointly with other municipalities, tribes, or persons to plan or carry out the project. The airport sponsor must own or, in some cases, have a long-term lease (minimum twenty years) for the land upon which the project will be accomplished.

The School Construction Assistance Program (SCAP) provides funding assistance to school districts that are undertaking a major new construction or modernization project. Projects must meet eligibility requirements. School districts are responsible to secure local funding for construction projects. If eligible, the State provides partial funding based on formulas, allowances, and costs related to certain aspects of a construction project called recognized project cost. The enrollment projection methodology excludes the number of students residing outside the school district who are enrolled in alternative learning experience (ALE) programs under RCW 28A.232.010. The current Student Enrollment Cohort Projections - Report 1049 are available in ICOS.

The County Arterial Preservation Program is similar to the Department of Transportation's Highway Preservation Program. The CAPP program is designed to help counties preserve their existing paved arterial road networks. The program generates approximately $30 million per biennium. Less than 3% of the revenue is spent for administration (WAC 136-300). The County Arterial Trust Account (CAPA) was created by Washington State Legislature in 1990 to fund the preservation of paved arterials on the statewide county road system. The CRABoard administers these funds through the County Arterial Preservation Program (CAPP) program via WAC 136 - 300. The CAPP is funded with 0.45 cent of the fuel tax, which generates approximately $30 million per biennium and $3 million per biennium from the Transportation Partnership Account (TPA). These funds are allocated directly to the counties to help them avoid costly roadway failures had the surface repairs been delayed. The County Road Administration Board, utilizing less than three percent of the revenue, monitors each county's overall arterial preservation program and accomplishments year by year. This encourages effective planning and ensures the funds are used where they are most needed. See CAPP submittal forms and due dates.

The Nonhighway and Off-road Vehicle Activities program provides funding to develop and manage recreation opportunities for such activities as cross-country skiing, hiking, horseback riding, mountain bicycling, hunting, fishing, sightseeing, motorcycling, and riding all-terrain and four-wheel drive vehicles. A portion of the funding also is available for education and enforcement programs that encourage environmentally responsible use of the outdoors and for helping to minimize conflict between visitors through positive management techniques. Except for off-road vehicle facilities, activities supported by this program must be accessed via a non-highway road, which is a public road that was not built or maintained with gasoline tax funding. Non-highway roads are found most often in state and national forests and national parks.

The Youth Athletic Facilities program provides grants to buy land and develop or renovate outdoor athletic facilities such as ball fields, courts, swimming pools, mountain bike tracks, and skate parks that serve youth through the age of 18. While the program focuses on youth, RCO strongly encourages grant recipients to design facilities to serve all ages and multiple activities. An athletic facility is an outdoor facility used for playing sports or participating in competitive athletics and excludes playgrounds, tot lots, vacant lots, open or undeveloped fields, and level open space used for non-athletic play. Typical Projects Adding lights to a field to allow evening games Changing an underused tennis court to a high-demand basketball court Changing the field surface, such as installing artificial turf, to allow more games per season or more seasons when the field may be used Expanding a youth-sized softball field to accommodate broader community uses

The Fire Management Assistance Grant Program is a grant program authorized under the Stafford Act that can reimburse a large portion of the costs to state, local and federally recognized tribal governments for the mitigation, management and control of fires on publicly or privately owned forests or grasslands. The program is authorized when a fire receives a federal fire declaration from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). A federal fire declaration may be requested and issued for an uncontrolled fire when a threat of a major disaster exists. The fire declaration process is initiated by the state when an authorized representative submits a request for a federal fire declaration to the FEMA Regional Administrator. These declarations are requested while a fire is burning uncontrolled and threatens to cause enough damage as would warrant a major disaster declaration (under the criteria for either Public Assistance or Individual Assistance). The entire process is accomplished on an expedited basis and a FEMA decision is rendered in a matter of hours. The FMAG Program provides a 75 percent Federal cost share for eligible emergency response and fire suppression costs.

The Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG) provides state, local, tribal and territorial emergency management agencies with the resources required for implementation of the National Preparedness System and works toward the National Preparedness Goal of a secure and resilient nation. The EMPG’s allowable costs support efforts to build and sustain core capabilities across the prevention, protection, mitigation, response and recovery mission areas. The purpose of the EMPG Program is to provide federal grants to states to assist state, local, territorial and tribal governments in preparing for all hazards, as authorized by the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (the Stafford Act), as amended (42 U.S.C. §§ 5121 et seq.) and Section 662 of the Post Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006, as amended (6 U.S.C. § 762). EMPG provides emergency management agencies with the resources required for implementation of the National Preparedness System and works toward the National Preparedness Goal of a secure and resilient nation. EMPG’s allowable costs support efforts to build and sustain core capabilities across the Prevention, Protection, Mitigation, Response and Recovery mission areas. A portion of each award is passed through to eligible city, county, and tribal emergency management organizations. Eligibility requirements and allocation methodology are documented within WAC 118-09.

The Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program provides funding for a broad range of land protection and outdoor recreation, including local and state parks, trails, water access, and the conservation and restoration of state land. The Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program was envisioned as a way for the state to accomplish two goals: acquire valuable recreation and habitat lands before they were lost to other uses and develop recreation areas for a growing population. This landmark legislation passed in 1990 and the grant program's continued funding have come about through the support of governors, the Legislature, and groups such as the many organizations comprising the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Coalition.

The program funds projects that acquire, develop, and renovate firearm ranges and archery training and practice facilities. It was created by the Legislature in 1990 after a report assessing the needs of law enforcement, sports groups, and the public identified a need for a program and funding to support shooting facilities. Typical Projects Installing fences, berms, and other noise and safety elements Upgrading firearms and archery equipment Renovating clubhouses Building new shooting courses Funding is awarded every 2 years and comes from a portion of each concealed pistol license fee.

This federal grant program provides funding to develop and renovate boating facilities targeting guest recreational boats 26 feet and larger. Grants also may be used for boater education. Typical Projects Renovating guest docks Installing utilities to moorage docks Building moorage docks and floats. Funding generally is awarded every 2 years. Funding comes through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service from federal gas taxes deposited in the federal Aquatic Resources Trust Fund.

Export Vouchers, funded by the U.S. Small Business Administration’s State Trade Expansion Program (STEP), reimburses eligible export expenses up to $10,000, depending on the expense. The following lists the eligible activities and reimbursement levels. If your business qualifies, you may receive up to the maximum allowed for that activity, or a lesser amount. Awards are granted based on committee review of your export voucher application.Qualifying Export Expenses Design of international marketing, digital advertising Website design, maintenance and international payment handling Online market listing fees E-commerce platform fees Expenses to set up a website to accept international payments Services of the U.S. Commercial Service International shipment of product samples Compliance requirements to enter an export market Export research tool subscription Cost associated with international IP protection (limited to the following–USPTO PCT transmittal fee, filing fee, search fee; Hague Intl Design App transmittal fee, Trademark Madrid Protocol fee) International business travel (airfare only) International trade show or trade mission fees (virtual or in-person) Foreign market sales trips Translation of marketing media, including audio/video EXIM Credit Insurance fees

The Public Works Board (Board) Broadband program is authorized by state statute (RCW 43.155.160). Its purpose is to loan and grant funding to promote the expansion of broadband access to unserved populations in rural and urban communities across the state. $2 million per project loan/grant award limit with a 50% match. Projects in financially distressed areas and Indian country may receive up to 90% of the total project cost for a total not to exceed $5 million.

Created in 1964, the Boating Facilities Program provides grants to acquire, develop, and renovate facilities for motorized boats and other watercraft, including launching ramps, guest moorage, and support facilities. Typical Projects Renovating boat launches Adding guest moorage facilities Building parking, restrooms, and other boating amenities To apply for this funding, grant applicants must have completed a comprehensive recreation or conservation plan. Match Details Match may include the following: Applicant’s labor, equipment, and materials Appropriations or cash Bonds Conservation futures Corrections labor Donations of cash, land, labor, equipment, and materials Federal, state, local, and private grants Local agencies and special purpose districts must provide 25 percent match for each project, and at least 10 percent of the total project cost must be from a non-state, non-federal contribution. State applicants do not need to provide match. Tribes need to provide 25 percent match.

Since 1986, the state’s Housing Trust Fund has invested over $2 billion in capital funding and helped build or preserve more than 58,600 affordable housing units statewide. The Washington Legislature makes biennial appropriations in the capital budget and directs the Department on how to invest the funds. The Housing Trust Fund provides capital financing through loans or grants to affordable housing projects through annual competitive application cycles.For over 25 years the Policy Advisory Team (PAT) has provided recommendations and advice on affordable housing policy for Commerce and the Affordable Housing Advisory Board (AHAB). RCW 43.185A.020 requires Commerce to develop and administer its affordable housing program with advice and input from AHAB. Commerce has made it a priority to make our community feedback more representative of communities most impacted by the housing crisis and discrimination in housing. Incorporating the voices of community members, and particularly centering voices of communities that experience marginalization and discrimination in access to housing, was a priority throughout a consultant-led process, which involved multiple public meetings across 2023. As a result of this process, Commerce recognizes the need to improve engagement holistically, and is presenting a proposal that replaces the current PAT. This proposal focuses on the following strategies to increase transparency of decision making by incorporating input from diverse stakeholders with reasonable timelines, presentations and multiple feedback channels.

We anticipate our next funding cycle to open in early 2024. CDBG Program Priorities: Financial need- Prioritizing applicants who do not have viable access to other funds/resources. Funding readiness- Prioritizing applicants who have secured all other funds. Funding efforts- Prioritizing applicants who have pursued other funding. Equity- Prioritizing applicants who have not recently received CDBG funding and who do not have open CDBG contracts for similar activities. CDBG General Purpose Grants are available annually through a competitive application process to assist Washington State small cities, towns and counties in carrying out significant community and economic development projects that principally benefit low- and moderate-income persons. The Washington State CDBG Program is funded by the U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Examples of eligible General Purpose Grant activities include: Public facilities, such as water, wastewater, streets and sidewalks Community facilities, such as community centers, libraries, food banks and fire stations Local assistance programs such as housing rehabilitation

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 Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) program utilizes federal funds to support communities in providing street outreach, emergency shelter, rental assistance, and related services. This program provides resources for adults and families with children experiencing or at risk of homelessness. The purpose of the ESG program is to provide homelessness prevention assistance to households who would otherwise become homeless and to provide assistance to rapidly re-house persons who are experiencing homelessness. The funds under this program are intended to target individuals and families who would be homeless but for this assistance. The funds will provide various assistance, including short-term or medium-term Rental Assistance, Housing Search and Placement, and Housing Stability Case Management.

The Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program provides funding for a broad range of land conservation efforts, from conserving natural areas near big cities to protecting the most pristine and unique collections of plants in the state, including some of last remaining plant species in the world. The Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program was envisioned as a way for the state to accomplish two goals: acquire valuable recreation and habitat lands before they were lost to other uses and develop recreation areas for a growing population. This landmark legislation passed in 1990 and the grant program's continued funding have come about through the support of governors, the Legislature, and groups such as the many organizations comprising the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Coalition.

CDBG General Purpose Grants are available annually through a competitive application process to assist Washington State small cities, towns and counties in carrying out significant community and economic development projects that principally benefit low- and moderate-income persons. The Washington State CDBG Program is funded by the U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Examples of eligible General Purpose Grant activities include: Public facilities, such as water, wastewater, streets and sidewalks Community facilities, such as community centers, libraries, food banks and fire stations Local assistance programs such as housing rehabilitation CDBG Program Priorities: Financial need- Prioritizing applicants who do not have viable access to other funds/resources. Funding readiness- Prioritizing applicants who have secured all other funds. Funding efforts- Prioritizing applicants who have pursued other funding. Equity- Prioritizing applicants who have not recently received CDBG funding and who do not have open CDBG contracts for similar activities.

This program provides financial assistance to small businesses and nonprofits in Burien, Washington, to repair storefront glass damaged by vandalism or property crime, helping them recover from economic disruptions caused by such incidents.