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County awards $4.6 million in ARPA funds to community groups, small ag producers

Chelan County commissioners have allocated $4.6 million of federal COVID relief dollars to a variety of local agencies, nonprofits and small agricultural producers.

The allocation of funds from the American Rescue Plan Act, or ARPA, comes after a two-month public application period held earlier this year.

“The board went through every application – all 50 of them – and discussed each one,” Commissioner Kevin Overbay said. “Those applicants receiving ARPA dollars serve a variety of missions, from food distribution and housing projects to childcare and health programs. The money also will be used on projects and programs across Chelan County. I am really looking forward to seeing how these relief dollars impact our community.”

ARPA provides local governments across the country COVID-relief money to meet pandemic response needs and rebuild a stronger, more equitable economy as communities across the country continue to recover from the pandemic.

The Board of County Commissioners previously decided to invest a portion of its overall $14.9 million in ARPA funding into the community, allocating $3 million in grants to local nonprofits and community agencies and up to $1 million to small agricultural operations in Chelan County that could demonstrate a hardship created by COVID.

Chelan County received 50 community applications totaling more than $17 million.

Of the $1 million originally set aside for small ag businesses, $525,000 was allocated because only 11 eligible applicants applied. Ten applicants were awarded $50,000 and another was awarded $25,000.

The $475,000 balance was put toward additional funding for the community groups and programs. In addition, $653,679 of ARPA monies also were allocated to the Chelan-Douglas Health District, to be spent on a variety of health district improvements, from infrastructure to programming.

The remaining funds will be used for county programs and departments.

“It has taken us a year to decide how we would allocate the ARPA dollars, but we wanted to develop and follow a thoughtful process,” Overbay said. “We always wish we could do more, but I am confident these monies will go a long way in our community.”

Those community agencies and programs that received ARPA funding are:

  • Chelan Douglas Community Action Council: $162,500 was awarded to support the council’s expansion of its food distribution center.
  • Chelan Valley Hope: $277,900 was awarded to expand operations, including the food bank.
  • Common Ground Community Housing Trust: $350,000 was awarded to fund acquisition of land for single-family homes, duplexes and townhomes.
  • Malaga-Colockum Community Council: $160,000 was awarded to support infrastructure improvements to the Malaga Community Park.
  • Our Valley Our Future: $109,250 was awarded to support the coordination and completion of three large-scale community initiatives related to regional housing; health, literacy and outcomes; and early care and education programs.
  • Seven Acres Foundation: $699,300 was awarded for the construction of the new Community Center at Lake Chelan.
  • Small Miracles Community Outreach: $33,750 was awarded to provide meals to children in the free or reduced school lunch program for meals during summer, spring and winter breaks.
  • Community for the Advancement of Family Education: $297,500 was awarded to support CAFÉ’s expanded community center.
  • Lake Chelan Lions Club Foundation: $22,800 was awarded to purchase audiometers that will be used to detect hearing and vision problems in school-age children and to provide community screenings for low-income and disadvantaged populations.
  • Upper Valley MEND: $350,000 was awarded to acquire workforce rental housing units in Leavenworth.
  • Wenatchee Valley YMCA: $462,000 was awarded to the organization’s capital campaign for a new facility.
  • Youth Dynamics: $75,000 was awarded, to be split between renovations at the group’s Stonewater Chalet in Plain and outreach efforts.
  • Center for Alcohol and Drug Treatment: $480,000 was awarded for land acquisition and construction on a new substance use disorder treatment facility in Chelan County.
  • Chelan-Douglas Health District: $653,679 was awarded for a variety of improvements, from infrastructure to programming.

Last Updated: 02/09/2023 09:20 AM

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    Apr 2024
    09:30 AM - 10:30 AM

    Public Meeting: Public Canvassing Board Meetings

    Posted by: Chelan County Elections

    The Canvassing Board of Chelan County, pursuant to RCW 29A.60.160, will hold public meetings at the dates and times listed below. The meetings of the Canvassing Board are open, public meetings under the applicable provisions of chapter 42.30 RCW, and each meeting shall be continued until the activity for which the meeting is held has been completed.

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